VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Connor Zary scored 1:33 into overtime and the Calgary Flames opened their season with a 6-5 comeback win over the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night.
Anthony Mantha had a goal and an assist to lead Calgary. Rasmus Andersson, Martin Pospisil, MacKenzie Weegar and Jonathan Huberdeau also scored for the Flames, who trailed 3-0 midway through the first period.
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Vancouver Canucks' Brock Boeser, front right, scores against Calgary Flames goalie Dan Vladar (80) as Rasmus Andersson (4) defends and Nazem Kadri (91) watches during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks goalie Arturs Silovs (31) stops Calgary Flames' Andrei Kuzmenko (96) as Vancouver's Aatu Raty (54), Tyler Myers (57) defend while Carson Soucy (7) ties up Calgary's Samuel Honzek (29) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames' Andrei Kuzmenko (96) has the puck knocked off his stick by Vancouver Canucks' Vincent Desharnais (73) as goalie Arturs Silovs (31) and Elias Pettersson, front left, watch during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks' Brock Boeser (6) celebrates his second goal against the Calgary Flames during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames' Anthony Mantha (39) and goalie Dan Vladar (80) check on teammate Kevin Rooney as he receives medical attention after being checked into the boards during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames' Kevin Rooney, second right, is helped off the ice by Jake Bean (24) as Mikael Backlund (11) skates with them after Rooney was checked into the boards during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames' Connor Zary (47) celebrates his winning goal against Vancouver Canucks goalie Arturs Silovs, back, while being checked by Filip Hronek (17) during overtime of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks' J.T. Miller, back center, Jake DeBrusk, left, and Filip Hronek celebrate Miller's goal against the Calgary Flames during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks' J.T. Miller (9) and Elias Pettersson (40) celebrate Miller's goal as Calgary Flames' Brayden Pachal (94) skates past during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames goalie Dan Vladar skates to the corner during a stoppage in play during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames' Connor Zary (47) and Martin Pospisil (76) celebrate Zary's winning goal against Vancouver Canucks goalie Arturs Silovs, back right, during overtime in an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames' Connor Zary (47) and Martin Pospisil (76) celebrate Zary's winning goal against Vancouver Canucks goalie Arturs Silovs, back right, during overtime of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames' Connor Zary (47) scores the winning goal against Vancouver Canucks goalie Arturs Silovs, left, as Filip Hronek (17) defends during overtime of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Brock Boeser had two goals and J.T. Miller, Daniel Sprong and Conor Garland also scored for the Canucks. Arturs Silovs stopped 20 shots for Vancouver.
Canucks: Squandered a 4-1 lead after the first period by giving up four unanswered goals to fall behind. Miller then tied it with 1:37 left in the third period.
Flames: Dan Vladar gave up four goals on 15 shots in the first period, but allowed only one more goal and finished with 20 saves for the win.
Huberdeau, under pressure this season to produce more and live up to his $10.5-million salary, scored Calgary’s fifth goal at 10:40 of the third period to give the Flames a 5-4 lead. Stationed in the blue paint, he batted in a rebound off a shot by Brayden Pachal.
Calgary blocked 21 shots to Vancouver’s 12.
The Canucks conclude their season-opening two-game homestand against Philadelphia on Friday night, and the Flames host the Flyers on Saturday night
AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
Vancouver Canucks' Brock Boeser, front right, scores against Calgary Flames goalie Dan Vladar (80) as Rasmus Andersson (4) defends and Nazem Kadri (91) watches during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks goalie Arturs Silovs (31) stops Calgary Flames' Andrei Kuzmenko (96) as Vancouver's Aatu Raty (54), Tyler Myers (57) defend while Carson Soucy (7) ties up Calgary's Samuel Honzek (29) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames' Andrei Kuzmenko (96) has the puck knocked off his stick by Vancouver Canucks' Vincent Desharnais (73) as goalie Arturs Silovs (31) and Elias Pettersson, front left, watch during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks' Brock Boeser (6) celebrates his second goal against the Calgary Flames during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames' Anthony Mantha (39) and goalie Dan Vladar (80) check on teammate Kevin Rooney as he receives medical attention after being checked into the boards during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames' Kevin Rooney, second right, is helped off the ice by Jake Bean (24) as Mikael Backlund (11) skates with them after Rooney was checked into the boards during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames' Connor Zary (47) celebrates his winning goal against Vancouver Canucks goalie Arturs Silovs, back, while being checked by Filip Hronek (17) during overtime of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks' J.T. Miller, back center, Jake DeBrusk, left, and Filip Hronek celebrate Miller's goal against the Calgary Flames during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks' J.T. Miller (9) and Elias Pettersson (40) celebrate Miller's goal as Calgary Flames' Brayden Pachal (94) skates past during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames goalie Dan Vladar skates to the corner during a stoppage in play during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames' Connor Zary (47) and Martin Pospisil (76) celebrate Zary's winning goal against Vancouver Canucks goalie Arturs Silovs, back right, during overtime in an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames' Connor Zary (47) and Martin Pospisil (76) celebrate Zary's winning goal against Vancouver Canucks goalie Arturs Silovs, back right, during overtime of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames' Connor Zary (47) scores the winning goal against Vancouver Canucks goalie Arturs Silovs, left, as Filip Hronek (17) defends during overtime of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Hurricane Milton plowed into Florida as a Category 3 storm Wednesday, bringing misery to a coast still ravaged by Helene, pounding cities with winds of over 100 mph (160 kph) after producing a barrage of tornadoes, but sparing Tampa a direct hit.
The storm tracked to the south in the final hours and made landfall in Siesta Key near Sarasota, about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of Tampa. The situation in the Tampa area was still a major emergency as St. Petersburg recorded over 16 inches (41 centimeters) of rain, prompting the National Weather Service to warn of flash flooding there as well as other parts of western and central Florida.
Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, appeared badly damaged. The fabric that serves as the domed building’s roof was ripped to shreds in the fierce winds. It was not immediately clear if there was damage inside the stadium. Multiple cranes were also toppled in the storm, the weather service said.
St. Petersburg residents also could no longer get water from their household taps because a water main break led the city to shut down service.
More than 2.6 million homes and businesses were without power in Florida, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility reports.
Before Milton even made landfall, tornadoes were touching down across the state. The Spanish Lakes Country Club near Fort Pierce, on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, was hit particularly hard, with homes destroyed and some residents killed.
“We have lost some life,” St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson told WPBF News, though he wouldn’t say how many people were killed.
About 125 homes were destroyed before the hurricane came ashore, many of them mobile homes in communities for senior citizens, said Kevin Guthrie, the director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
About 90 minutes after making landfall, Milton was downgraded to a Category 2 storm. By early Thursday, the hurricane was a Category 1 storm with maximum sustained winds of about 90 mph (145 kph) as it churned about 40 miles (65 kilometers) south-southwest of Orlando.
Heavy rains were also likely to cause flooding inland along rivers and lakes as Milton traverses the Florida Peninsula as a hurricane, eventually to emerge in the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday. It is expected to impact the heavily populated Orlando area.
The storm slammed into a region still reeling two weeks after Hurricane Helene flooded streets and homes in western Florida and left at least 230 people dead across the South. In many places along the coast, municipalities raced to collect and dispose of debris before Milton’s winds and storm surge could toss it around and compound any damage.
Officials had issued dire warnings to flee or face grim odds of survival.
“This is it, folks,” said Cathie Perkins, emergency management director in Pinellas County, which sits on the peninsula that forms Tampa Bay. “Those of you who were punched during Hurricane Helene, this is going to be a knockout. You need to get out, and you need to get out now.”
By late afternoon, some officials said the time had passed for such efforts, suggesting that people who stayed behind hunker down instead. By the evening, some counties announced they had suspended emergency services.
Jackie Curnick said she wrestled with her decision to stay aat home in Sarasota, just north of where the storm made landfall. But with a 2-year-old son and a baby girl due Oct. 29, Curnick and her husband thought it was for the best.
Curnick said they started packing Monday to evacuate, but they couldn’t find any available hotel rooms, and the few they came by were too expensive.
She said there were too many unanswered questions if they got in the car and left: Where to sleep, if they’d be able to fill up their gas tank, and if they could even find a safe route out of the state.
“The thing is it’s so difficult to evacuate in a peninsula,” she said. “In most other states, you can go in any direction to get out. In Florida there are only so many roads that take you north or south."
At a news conference in Tallahassee, Gov. Ron DeSantis described deployment of a wide range of resources, including 9,000 National Guard members from Florida and other states; over 50,000 utility workers from as far as California; and highway patrol cars with sirens to escort gasoline tankers to replenish supplies so people could fill up their tanks before evacuating.
“Unfortunately, there will be fatalities. I don’t think there’s any way around that,” DeSantis said.
Heavy rain and tornadoes lashed parts of southern Florida starting Wednesday morning, with conditions deteriorating throughout the day. Six to 12 inches (15 to 31 centimeters) of rain, with up to 18 inches (46 centimeters) in some places, was expected well inland, bringing the risk of catastrophic flooding.
One twister touched down Wednesday morning in the lightly populated Everglades and crossed Interstate 75. Another apparent tornado touched down in Fort Myers, snapping tree limbs and tearing a gas station's canopy to shreds.
Authorities issued mandatory evacuation orders across 15 Florida counties with a total population of about 7.2 million people. Officials warned that anyone staying behind must fend for themselves, because first responders were not expected to risk their lives attempting rescues at the height of the storm.
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch told residents to expect long power outages and the possible shutdown of the sewer system.
In Charlotte Harbor, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Tampa, clouds swirled and winds gusted as Josh Parks packed his Kia sedan with clothes and other belongings. Two weeks ago, Helene’s surge brought about 5 feet (1.5 meters) of water to the neighborhood, and its streets remain filled with waterlogged furniture, torn-out drywall and other debris.
Parks, an auto technician, planned to flee to his daughter’s home inland and said his roommate already left.
“I told her to pack like you aren’t coming back,” he said.
By early afternoon, airlines had canceled about 1,900 flights. SeaWorld was closed all day Wednesday, and Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando shut down in the afternoon.
More than 60% of gas stations in Tampa and St. Petersburg were out of gas Wednesday afternoon, according to GasBuddy. DeSantis said the state's overall supply was fine, and highway patrol officers were escorting tanker trucks to replenish the supply.
In the Tampa Bay area's Gulfport, Christian Burke and his mother stayed put in their three-story concrete home overlooking the bay. Burke said his father designed this home with a Category 5 in mind — and now they’re going to test it.
As a passing police vehicle blared encouragement to evacuate, Burke acknowledged staying isn’t a good idea and said he’s “not laughing at this storm one bit."
Contributing to this report were Associated Press journalists Holly Ramer in New Hampshire; Joseph Frederick in West Bradenton, Florida; Curt Anderson in Tampa; Freida Frisaro in Fort Lauderdale; Brenden Farrington in Tallahassee; Michael Goldberg in Minneapolis; Patrick Whittle in Portland, Maine; Jeff Martin in Atlanta and Christopher L. Keller in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
A car drives past a pile of debris from Hurricane Helene flooding, along a street that had already begun flooding from rain ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Milton, in Gulfport, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
A tow truck responds following a traffic accident between a car and a fire truck returning from a call, on near-deserted streets in downtown Tampa, Fla., during the approach of Hurricane Milton, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Mark Sapanara, of Pinellas, Fla., walks with his daughter's dog Frankie in the lobby of the hotel where he is taking shelter during Hurricane Milton, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
A few of the 283 registered animals, birds and reptiles line a hallway in the evacuation shelter at River Ridge Middle/High School in preparation for Hurricane Milton, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, in New Port Richey, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
The city of Sunny Isles Beach, Fla., is seen from Surfside, Fla., as the outer bands of Hurricane Milton kick up the sand, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Neighboring homes, a pile of debris and a garage damaged in Hurricane Helene, are seen from the third-floor of the home where Christian Burke, his mother and aunt will ride out Hurricane Milton, in Gulfport, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. Burke, who said his engineer father built the concrete home to withstand a Category 5 hurricane, expects his raised ground floor to flood severely, but for the building to remain standing. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Melvin Lee Hicks, who is homeless, lies under a sheet donated by a nearby hotel, as he shelters alongside a parking garage in downtown Tampa, Fla., during the approach of Hurricane Milton, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Melvin Lee HIcks, who is homeless, wears a trash bag to protect against wind-driven rain, as he stands on a deserted street in downtown Tampa, Fla., during the approach of Hurricane Milton, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
A homeless person sleeps under a wheelchair alongside a parking garage in deserted downtown Tampa, Fla., during the approach of Hurricane Milton, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
A view of some of the 700 evacuees in the gymnasium in shelter at River Ridge Middle/High School in preparation for Hurricane Milton on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, in New Port Richey, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
Christian Burke stands on the third floor of his home, where he, his mother, and his aunt plan to ride out Hurricane Milton with views through hurricane proof glass over Tampa Bay, in Gulfport, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. Burke, who said his engineer father built the concrete home to withstand a Category 5 hurricane, expects his home to turn into an island, with up to 8 feet of water filling the raised first floor. Behind Burke, a window reflects a boat deposited by Hurricane Helene in the bay front park across the street. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
A man walking his dogs takes a picture from the sheltered entryway of the Hyatt Place Downtown Tampa hotel, as strong gusts of wind from Hurricane Milton blow sheets of rain along the street in Tampa, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo Rebecca Blackwell)
Rain begins to fall ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Milton in Tampa, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
This GOES-16 GeoColor satellite image taken at 11:46 a.m. EDT and provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows Hurricane Milton in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (NOAA via AP)
Chris Nation, of Commerce, Ga., skids on puddles in the parking lot of the hotel where he's riding out Hurricane Milton, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. Nation, who works for a towing company, was deployed to Florida to aid in the aftermath of the storm. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
A boat damaged in Hurricane Helene rests against a bridge ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Milton, in South Pasadena, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
A Lee County Sheriff's officer patrols the streets of Cape Coral, Fla., as heavy rain falls ahead of Hurricane Milton, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
The Segundo family, who evacuated from nearby Davis Island, plays a board game with their dog Cassie looking on, as Hurricane Milton makes landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast, at Hyatt Place Tampa Downtown hotel in Tampa, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Ron Rook, who said he was looking for people in need of help or debris to clear, walks through windy and rainy conditions on a deserted street in downtown Tampa, Fla., during the approach of Hurricane Milton, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Wind-driven rain soaks a street in downtown Tampa, Fla., during the passage of Hurricane Milton, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Max Watts, of Buford, Ga., walks in the parking lot to check on a trailer parked outside the hotel where he is riding out Hurricane Milton with coworkers, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. Watts, who works for a towing company, was deployed with colleagues to Florida to aid in the aftermath of the storm. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
The roof of Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays, appeared to be badly damaged as Hurricane Milton passes Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (Chris Urso/Tampa Bay Times via AP)
Christian Burke stands at the door of his home, where he, his mother, and his aunt plan to ride out Hurricane Milton on the third floor overlooking overlooking Tampa Bay, in Gulfport, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. Burke, who said his engineer father built the concrete home to withstand a Category 5 hurricane, expects his raised ground floor to get up to 8 feet of water in Milton. A boat deposited by Hurricane Helene sits lodged in the bay front park outside his front door. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
More than 2 million without power as Hurricane Milton slams Florida, causes deaths and flooding
More than 2 million without power as Hurricane Milton slams Florida, causes deaths and flooding
