Baron of Boos, Roman Turek Steals One

First Win Streak Since January 6th


February 11th, 2004
D'ARCY MCGRATH

With only 27 games left on the schedule and the Flames in the middle of four teams tighter in the standings then a midway crowd at the Stampede, every game is a big one.

Even so the Flames chose to mix things up from their 5-2 triumph over the Atlanta Thrashers last night by starting the befuddled Saddledome heckle target Roman Turek in a game pretty much set up for a loss.

Tough team, enemy rink, second game in back to back nights and a Flames team that have done everything but put a positive string together in the last month and a half.

So much for best laid plans.

Roman Turek was key in making 13 third period saves, leading the Flames to a 3-2 victory in Vancouver on Wednesday night, the club's second win in as many nights.

The Flames came out strong in this one, controlling the play and coming close only to be foiled by Canucks stopper Dan Cloutier in the game's first ten minutes.

All that work didn't pay off however, when the Canucks struck first on a 5 on 3 powerplay with Sami Salo's blast beating Turek to put the home side up 1-0.

The man advantage was set up by a needless penalty to Dean McAmmond, a call that had the player sat down by coach Sutter for stretches, despite his two goal heroics the night previous.

Two minutes later the Canucks doubled their lead when Turek was caught flat footed in his crease leaving a goal to Vancouver pest Jarkko Ruutu.

Later in the period the Canuck's were pressing again, but Turek managed to foil Todd Bertuzzi twice giving way to a Flame rush that had Craig Conroy narrow the lead to 2-1.

"We were very fortunate to be up 2-0", said Canuck coach Marc Crawford, "they took some bad penalties and we managed to score twice".

"They scored an early on in the third and we spent the rest of the period trying to solve him (Turek). We probably got what we deserved tonight".

The Flames tied the score in the second period when Chuck Kobasew scored his 3rd of the season on a Calgary powerplay, the club's first man advantage goal since Jarome Iginla's first period powerplay goal against Los Angeles last week ... a stretch that saw the club go 15 straight without scoring.

Speaking of Mr. Iginla, the Flames' captain managed to pop the winner tonight, firing a shot past Cloutier just 28 seconds into the third period leaving Turek to steal the show and seal the win for the Flames.

The visitors were out shot by a 13-6 mark in the final stanza leaving the club's "road" goaltender to come up again and again to preserve the improbable victory.

The win moves the Flames back to eight games over .500 and on pace for 90 points once again. The Flames haven't been nine games over .500 since January 10th when the defeated the Florida Panthers in the Saddledome. The club has never reached the ten game over .500 mark this season.

Up next for the Flames is a home date against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks on Friday night, a chance for the Flames to win three games in a row and really put a firm grip on one of the conference's eight playoff spots.

 

 

 

SCOREBOARD

FLAMES 3
CANUCKS 2

1 Roman Turek - Has the big goalie finally stolen one? This writers says he has. Gave up the game's first two goals and then shut the door for the Flames. 

2 Jarome Iginla - Two more points and the third period game winner. 

3 Dan Cloutier - Feisty stopper was dominant in the first half of the game giving his club a chance.

With the score 2-0 Vancouver late in the first period, Roman Turek turned the game on its ear stoning Todd Bertuzzi and sending the puck up ice for Craig Conroy to cut the Vancouver lead to one. A very pivotal moment in the contest.

It wasn't a bad night out of town for the Calgary Flames with some very key Western Conference matchups gong very much their way. The Oilers did themselves a favour by completing the Alberta sweep of the Thrashers, but the Sharks and Predators lost out right, the Kings lost in overtime, the Stars tied and the Coyotes were losing at press time. Not bad. ... Only in the West, the Calgary Flames were clinging to the 8th and final playoff spot a week ago, but now sit fifth in the conference after tonight's results. The Calgary squad sits with 64 points in 56 games, edging out the Stars with 64 in 57. The Flames have a one point lead on 7th place Los Angeles and an almost spacious four points up on both St. Louis and Nashville. ... Both teams hit for one powerplay goal in five chances on the night. ... They also broke even in the face off circle at exactly 50% apiece. Craig Conroy took 25 of the games' 62 face offs, winning 13. ... Toni Lydman led all Flames skaters with 25:20 of ice time, second only to Mattias Ohlund in the game. Jarome Iginla and Craig Conroy both played a tonne up front logging 23:46 and 22:37 respectively. ... Nice feeling to have two goaltenders coming off big wins for Darryl Sutter I imagine, but with the next date at the Dome look for Miika Kiprusoff to return to the twine on Friday night, leaving Turek ready and confident for the club's upcoming tough road trip.

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