CALGARY - Mikael Backlund snapped a season-long scoring drought in dramatic fashion on Thursday.

Backlund scored 35 seconds into overtime and also had an assist to give the Calgary Flames a badly needed 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Breaking in on a 2-on-1, Johnny Gaudreau's shot was stopped by Michal Neuvirth but the rebound popped straight out, hit Backlund around his hip as he skated to the crease and went in.

"I'll take it. I haven't had the best start, either, so it's obviously nice to get that game-winner," said the veteran Swede, whose only point entering the night was a goal three weeks ago.

It was the first time Calgary had given up fewer than two goals all season. The Flames have surrendered a league-high 56 goals.

"We grinded all night. Everyone worked hard. I don't think we gave them up too many scoring chances," Backlund said. "This was one of our best defensive games where we had them on the outside."

Calgary improved to 3-0-0 in 3-on-3 overtime.

"We understand the concept of 3-on-3. Once you're there, there's a free point on the table. Go for it, don't sit back," said Calgary coach Bob Hartley.

Josh Jooris also scored for Calgary (4-9-1) as the Flames improved to 2-5-0 at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Michael Raffl scored his first of the season for Philadelphia (4-6-3). The Flyers are 0-3-1 on a five-game road trip that wraps up Saturday in Winnipeg.

It was a match-up between two struggling teams — the Flames with one win in their previous six and the Flyers winless in five.

"If we play like this, we'll be in a lot of hockey games, we'll compete for a lot of points and that's what we need ," said Flyers forward Sean Couturier.

It looked like Calgary was going to head to the second intermission with a lead for just the second time this season but Raffl fluttered a shot past Karri Ramo with 36 seconds left.

"It's a tough goal to give in this kind of game, late in the period," said Ramo. "But we're growing as a group. We're getting the confidence back that when those things happen, we just forget it and move on."

Flyers coach Dave Hakstol liked the way his struggling team battled.

"We're coming to the end of the road trip here and we need one push," said Hakstol. "This is a gutty road effort by us. We need to pick up where we left off there and when things aren't going well, you have to find a way. We have to push to get over the hump."

The Flames took a 1-0 lead less than five minutes into the game. After serving a minor penalty, Jooris stepped out of the penalty box just in time to scoop up the puck at centre and charge in on a breakaway.

Neuvirth stopped his initial shot then stopped Backlund on the rebound, but Jooris got the puck again and fired in his second of the season.

"It might not have looked the prettiest out there, but we limited them to seven scoring chances and one goal against. That's huge for us," Jooris said.

Ramo, who entered the game ranked second-last in the NHL in save percentage at .871, finished with 26 stops and improved to 2-4-0.

Neuvirth, in place of an ill Steve Mason who got the night off, had 28 saves in falling to 2-3-0.

Notes: Philadelphia healthy scratches were Sam Gagner and David Drewiske... Mason Raymond and Ladislav Smid did not dress for Calgary... Philadelphia's Sean Couturier (concussion) returned after missing six games.... Jakub Voracek was held without a shot. Still without a goal on the season, he entered the night with 50 shots, which was fourth most in the NHL.