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Calgary Flames

Game 16 – Recap – Flames early burst too much for Avs

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Thank goodness for the Avalanche. Providing a much needed two points to the Flames and their 8th straight victory over them. Miikka Kiprusoff was the reason the Flames held on for the win. Kipper had 36 saves as the Avs pressed relentlessly in the final frame.

Paul Byron and Derek Smith put together a nice play to open the scoring with Byron putting in the goal. Jarome Iginla potted a goal by grabbing the puck after work done by Alex Tanguay and Jay Bouwmeester for the second Flames goal. Curtis Glencross scored again quickly in what was starting to look like a turkey shoot early in the game.

At about the half-way point of the 2nd Lee Stempniak put the eventual game winner in with an assist from Roman Horak. At the half-way mark of the game it looked like a slam dunk but the Flames started to slow down and the fact they had played the night before began to reveal itself.

Milan Hejduk scored with 5 min left in 2nd and the Avalanche came out on a mission in the third period. Scoring immediately 26 seconds into the third was Matt Duchene. A 4-2 hockey game with a full third period was up for grabs. The Avalanche swarmed but this is a game where Mikka earned his pay.

David Jones got another one through finally with under 5 min left in the game. Pushing frantically in the final minute Flames fans held their breath but Kipper brought home the W without any of the drama of an OT. Something that a tired Flames team that was fading as the game went on would not have been well-positioned to enter.

2 points for the good guys but still below 0.500. A Sens team that should be beatable is up next. A critical game to notch 2 points in for the Flames to get out of the knee deep hole they are in. 

by M Smith