Calgary Flames 3 St. Louis Blues 2

Former Blues Large in St. Louis

D'Arcy McGrath

October 22nd, 2001

When a player gets traded there are certain dates that get marked on the calendar. 

First and foremost a player looks forward to playing against their old teammates, perhaps proving them wrong in moving you along your way.

When said team makes said player the scapegoat of past playoff disappointments, the calendar gets marked with a dark, red pen.

Roman Turek played down the meeting, telling the Calgary Herald it was just another game, that the two points were the key issue at state.

By his play however, clearly nothing could be further from the truth - as the big goaltender turned away his former teammates 3-2 to advance the Flames early season wining streak to four straight games.

The Flames opened the scoring in the first period, when another former Blue, Craig Conroy with his first of two on the night, extracted his own revenge, popping his third of the season.

Conroy took a heads up pass from line mate Dean McAmmond and beat former Flame, Fred Brathwaite, after cutting around the outside and using his speed to get in alone.

The score remained 1-0 Calgary, until the second period when the Blues struck for back to back goals, only a couple of minutes apart.

The game was tied when Jamal Mayers scored a curious goal, one that Turek would likely love to have back. On the play, Mayers cleverly tipped the puck only to have a sharp Turek corral it, yet inadvertently steer it into his own net.

A few minutes later Pavol Demitra put the Blues ahead for their only lead of the night, catching Turek down and sliding the puck into the far side of the net from a near impossible angle.

Before the end of the period the Flames managed to tie the game, when Scott Nichol scored his second NHL goal with Turek pulled on a delayed penalty. The goal came on an outstanding feed from Jarome Iginla, leaving Nichol with a wide open net. The Blues disputed the goal arguing that they had touched the puck, though replays showed they hadn't managed control.

The Flames went ahead in the third period on a goal by Craig Conroy, his second of the evening, giving the squad their seventh win in nine starts on the season - setting a new nine game record for best start in Calgary Flames history.

The goal came on a third period powerplay after Conroy directed the puck towards a stretching Fred Brathwaite. The puck bounced around wildly before crossing the goal line.

"I think it hit Pronger's leg, and it was just nice to see it cross the line to give us the lead, with Roman back there you knew we had a chance", said Conroy after the game.

"I could have kissed him right there", added Conroy when asked about Turek's third period save on Doug Weight.

The Flames previous best start was set in 1989, the season the Flames won the Stanley Cup. The franchise record was set in 1978 when the Flames started the season with ten straight wins.

The win vaults the Flames past the Red Wings into first place in the Western Conference, awaiting the result of the Oilers-Predators game at Skyreach.

Box Score


OUR STARS

1) Roman Turek - Had a tough second period, allowing two goals he'd like to have back, but they were the only goals he'd surrender on the night.

2) Jarome Iginla - Three assists on the night, as he continues to gel with new center, Craig Conroy. The three assists give Iginla 11 points in nine starts this season. 

3) Craig Conroy - Other former Blue also dominant with two goals, including the game winner.


SAVE OF THE GAME

Though everyone in the Savis Center were celebrating a third period goal to Doug Weight, Roman Turek was busy diving across the crease to corral the labeled shot with his extended blocker.


ROMAN "Beer" WATCH

Recently is it was advertised that Limerick's bar in Calgary is set to sell beer for the existing goals against average of Flame goaler Roman Turek on game nights. Coming into the game Turek's average sat at 1.27 so a cold one was going for $1.27. After tonight that price will balloon to $1.37, though a betting man would suggest the win may actually result in more sales. 


NOTES & NUMBERS

For at least the second time this year, Roman Turek stole won as the Flames were outshot by a count of 28-18, and 21-12 for the last two periods ... Once again Greg Gilbert relied on the top unit for his injury plagued squad, as Craig Conroy and Jarome Iginla both received over 21 minutes. Other notable ice time gluttens included Clarke Wilm with a career high 20:50, Robyn Regehr 24:23, Bob Boughner 21:11 and Derek Morris 22:59. It marks the first time this season that Derek Morris failed to lead the team in ice time. ... For the Blues, Al MacInnis played almost half the game at 29:26, Chris Pronger was next at 28:00. ... Craig Conroy scored two goals on only three shots, though he missed the net with five other attempts. ... Clark Wilm won an incredible 21 of 25 face offs last night to pace the team. ... Scott Nichol took seven of eight. ... Tyson Nash led all players in hits with seven. ... the Flames top hitsmen was Bob Boughner with five. ... One of the greatest questions surrounding the team entering the campaign surrounded offence, and which players would step up. Both Craig Conroy and Dean McAmmond are on career high paces, playing a large role in making up for the loss of Marc Savard. Conroy is on pace for 27 goals and 82 points, while Dean McAmmond is on pace for 27 goals and 73 points.