Flames Yegor Sharangovich Shows Why Secondary Scoring

Sometimes a hockey game turns on one shot. Sometimes it turns on a player who has been quietly doing his job, waiting for the chance to make a difference. For the Calgary Flames, Yegor Sharangovich provided that moment Sunday night, scoring with 4:28 left in the third period to give Calgary a 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. It was a terrific finish, but I think there's a little more to the story than one goal.

The Flames have been having a difficult start to the season, and scoring hasn't always come easily. That's what makes contributions from players like Sharangovich so important. He isn't being asked to carry the entire team, but he does have a role to play. On Sunday, he delivered when Calgary needed him.

Sharangovich Shows the Value of Being Ready.

Through eight games, Sharangovich has two goals and two assists, with 16 shots on goal. Those aren't numbers that will make anybody's jaw drop, but they also don't tell the whole story. He has been playing a middle-six role on a team that needs more offence, and his late goal against Carolina was a timely reminder of what he can bring.

The winning play was a good one. Morgan Frost found Sharangovich with a pass, and the forward made no mistake, firing a one-timer into the net. It was the sort of finish that can change a team's mood, particularly one that entered the game with only one win in its first seven contests.

There's something to be said for players who keep working without making every game about their own numbers. A team needs its stars to produce, of course. But it also needs the middle-of-the-lineup players to find ways to contribute. Those goals can be the difference between a close loss and two points.

The Flames Need More Than One Big Shot.

I'm not suggesting one win means Calgary has solved its problems. The Flames still have plenty of work ahead, and one game doesn't change the bigger picture. But beating the defending Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes, who had won seven straight, was a meaningful result. Calgary also got 34 saves from Devin Cooley, so this was a team effort rather than a one-player show.

The interesting question is whether Sharangovich and the rest of the supporting cast can keep chipping in. Calgary needs enough players to do their jobs, take advantage of opportunities and make life a little easier for one another.

That's how teams get through difficult stretches. Sometimes the big names lead the way. Other nights, a player like Sharangovich gets his chance, takes his shot and reminds everybody that secondary scoring isn't secondary when the game is on the line.