Dion Phaneuf scored the game-winning goal in
overtime to lift the Calgary Flames over the St. Louis Blues, 2-1, at
Scottrade Center.
Jarome Iginla scored the other goal for the Flames, who were coming off a 3-2
overtime win against the Stars on Wednesday. Calgary defenseman Jay
Bouwmeester played his 356th consecutive game, the longest active streak of
any player. Miikka Kiprusoff turned aside 30-of-31 shots for the victors.
"I think overall it was probably our best road game of the year. We were
suddenly more patient in the way we played. I thought our neutral zone play
was much better," Flames head coach Brent Sutter said.
Lars Eller scored his first career goal in his NHL debut for the Blues, who
were shut out in their previous two games. Chris Mason stopped 29-of-31 shots
for St. Louis, which has lost four of its last five contests.
"I thought we played a lot better tonight. That's a really good hockey team
over there," Mason said. "I thought we played them really strong. I think the
biggest thing is that we played well and stuck with the system."
Phaneuf's slapper from the point made its way through a number of players in
front before finding the back of the net at the 2:50 mark of the extra
session.
Down 1-0, the Blues snapped a scoreless drought that lasted 171 minutes and 5
seconds. A Dustin Boyd tripping penalty put St. Louis on the power play at the
5:20 mark of the third. After winning a faceoff in the Flames' zone, Erik
Johnson fired a slapshot on net. The disc deflected off Eller's arm and into
the back of the net to tie things with 12:45 remaining.
The Flames drew first blood at the 3:34 mark of the first period. Olli
Jokinen's perfect pass from center ice set up Iginla on a breakaway. Iginla
fired a wrister that trickled through the pads of Mason. The disc slowly
crossed past the goal line before Mason could find the puck.
A pair of Calgary hooking penalties, which were separated by 23 seconds, gave
St. Louis a 5-on-3 power play in the second. The Blues failed to score on five
shots during the power play.
Game Notes
St. Louis was without forward Andy McDonald (head/neck) and defenseman Carlo
Colaiacovo (flu)...The Flames are 16-2-1 in their last 19 meetings with the
Blues and have compiled a 9-1-1 record in St. Louis over that span...St. Louis
dropped to 2-5-1 at home this year, while Calgary improved to 5-3-0 on the
road...The Flames host the Rangers on Saturday, while the Blues play at
Philadelphia that night.
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