Zibanejad Scores Twice, Korpisalo Stops 30 as Rangers Beat Flames 3-1 in Calgary
CALGARY, Alberta — Mika Zibanejad scored twice in the second period and Joonas Korpisalo stopped 30 of 31 shots as the New York Rangers beat the Calgary Flames 3-1 on Wednesday night at Scotiabank Saddledome, surviving a late push from a home side that outshot them 31-24. The win lifted New York to 10-8-1 on the season, while Calgary slipped to 8-9-1 after failing to find an equaliser despite long spells of third-period pressure.
It was a night that rewarded patience over volume. Calgary fired 57 shot attempts to New York's 42, yet the Rangers were sharper where it counted: in front of goal and in their own crease, where Korpisalo delivered a 96.8 percent save performance.
Key Points
- Mika Zibanejad scored both Rangers goals in the second period, at 00:59 and at 10:52 on the power play.
- Joonas Korpisalo stopped 30 of 31 shots for New York, while Devin Cooley made 21 saves on 23 shots for Calgary.
- Adam Klapka cut the lead to 2-1 at 07:41 of the third period on the power play, but Calgary could not find an equaliser.
- The Flames outshot the Rangers 31-24 and attempted 57 shots to New York's 42.
- The Rangers improved to 10-8-1; the Flames dropped to 8-9-1.
What Happened
The first period ended without a goal, with both goaltenders settling in during a cagey, physical start. New York had eight shots on goal in the opening frame to Calgary's nine, and the defences held firm in front of a loud home crowd.
The game changed less than a minute after the restart. Zibanejad opened the scoring at 00:59 of the second period, finishing a wrist shot set up by Alexis Lafrenière and Marcus Pettersson to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. The quick strike forced the home side to chase and opened space for New York's forwards.
Zibanejad struck again at 10:52 of the middle frame, this time on the power play, converting passes from Pavel Dorofeyev and Lafrenière with a slap shot that beat Cooley and doubled the advantage to 2-0. Lafrenière's second assist of the night underlined his growing influence, while Dorofeyev also picked up a point.
Calgary refused to fold. Klapka, who led the Flames with four shots and six hits, scored at 07:41 of the third period on the power play, finishing a play set up by Ryan Strome and Yegor Sharangovich to cut the deficit to 2-1 and reignite the Saddledome crowd. The Flames pressed for an equaliser, putting 10 shots on Korpisalo in the final period, but he turned them all away, and a third Rangers goal completed the 3-1 scoreline.
Background
The Rangers arrived in Calgary looking to build on a strong road swing. Their 4-3 win over Seattle on November 7, in which Korpisalo won his season debut with 25 saves, had shown a team growing in confidence away from home, and Wednesday's result continued that trend.
For Calgary, the defeat was a frustrating one. The Flames have made a habit of generating chances — 31 shots on goal on Wednesday and 57 attempts overall — but converting that pressure into goals has been the recurring problem. Joel Farabee led the way with five shots on goal, yet only Klapka found the net.
Zibanejad's two-goal night was a reminder of his value as a difference-maker. The Swedish centre has long been one of New York's most reliable scorers in big moments, and his quick double was the decisive passage of play in a game that was otherwise finely balanced.
How the Rangers Beat the Flames 3-1
The difference was efficiency. New York needed only 23 shots to score three times, while Calgary managed one goal from 31 shots. The Rangers also won the faceoff battle 32-25 and outhit the Flames 29-21, with both teams finishing with one power-play goal each.
Defensively, the Rangers were organised and committed. Braden Schneider led the visitors with four hits and two blocked shots in 22:38 of ice time, Adam Fox played a team-high 23:22, and Marcus Pettersson logged 21:53 while setting up the opening goal. Calgary's blue line worked hard too, but the Flames could not create the one clear chance that would have levelled the game.
Reactions
No post-game quotes from either coach or player were included in the wire reports checked for this article, so there are no direct comments to report from the dressing rooms. What the game itself showed was a Rangers side that trusted its structure on the road and a Flames side that left the ice knowing it had done much of the hard work without the reward.
Why It Matters
Road wins like this one are the currency of a long NHL season. The Rangers improved to 10-8-1, keeping themselves firmly in the early playoff picture in the Eastern Conference, and they did it in a building where visiting teams rarely have it easy. Winning while being outshot is not a formula to rely on nightly, but it shows a team that can defend a lead and trust its goaltender.
For Calgary, the 8-9-1 record tells a story of a team close to turning a corner but not quite there. The Flames generate enough chances to win most nights; the challenge now is finishing them. Zibanejad's form matters too: when New York's top centre scores twice in a period, the Rangers are a different proposition, and his partnership with Lafrenière is becoming one of the team's most productive combinations.
What Happens Next
Both teams now turn to the next stretch of the schedule. The Rangers will look to carry their road form into their next outing and keep building on a record that has them above .500, while the Flames will go back to work on the finishing that let them down in front of their own fans. For Korpisalo, the challenge is to keep this form going after his return from injury; his two strong starts have given the coaching staff real confidence in their goaltending depth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score between the Rangers and the Flames?
The New York Rangers beat the Calgary Flames 3-1 on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary.
Who scored for the Rangers?
Mika Zibanejad scored both of New York's goals in the second period, at 00:59 and at 10:52 on the power play, and the Rangers added a third to complete the 3-1 win.
How many saves did Joonas Korpisalo make?
Korpisalo stopped 30 of 31 shots for a 96.8 percent save rate. Calgary's Devin Cooley made 21 saves on 23 shots.
What are the teams' records after the game?
The Rangers improved to 10-8-1, while the Flames dropped to 8-9-1.
Did the Flames outshoot the Rangers?
Yes. Calgary outshot New York 31-24 and attempted 57 shots to the Rangers' 42, but could not find an equaliser after Adam Klapka's third-period goal made it 2-1.
Read more NHL coverage on US News Pulse: Rangers Beat Kraken 4-3 as Korpisalo Shines in Season Debut in Seattle, Kucherov Hat Trick Powers Lightning Past Sabres 8-3 as Carlson Hits 800 Points and Ducks Beat Flames 5-3 for Seventh Straight Five-Goal Game.
Leave a Comment