Backlund dances around Letang, notches nasty one

Kyle Cantlon
·Writer
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Mikael Backlund celebrates his pretty goal in the first period against the Pittsburgh Penguins (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Mikael Backlund celebrates his pretty goal in the first period against the Pittsburgh Penguins (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

While the Calgary Flames are in the midst of a heated battle for a playoff spot, Mikael Backlund is just out here dancing like nobody’s watching.

The Flames centreman put on a stickhandling clinic as he walked around Kris Letang — obviously no slouch — and finished off a nifty effort past Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry to pull Calgary even at two with Pittsburgh on Monday:

After taking a Michael Frolik feed just inside the blue line, Backlund caught Letang fishing for the puck before turning the two-time All Star inside out and sliding a cheeky backhander past Jarry. It was Backlund’s 13th tally of the season and the 28-year-old’s sixth point in the last five games.

The goal helped Calgary salvage a much-needed point against the defending Cup champs, who currently sit second in the Metro division. The Flames, meanwhile, sit three points behind the Kings and four points behind the Ducks for the final wild card position and third spot in the Pacific, respectively.

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