Friendly Flames Tied Stars

Calgary Flames

March 28th, 2002

Oh sure a stickler would point out the blown two goal lead as being less the cooperative.

But on a night when the Flames had the opportunity to play a big role two to three team's playoff fortunes, a tie seems like the nicest way to help out everyone.

With the Flames stealing a point from Dallas and the Oilers coming from behind against Los Angeles, a truly devastating night for Calgary's northern rivals.

Later in the night the Vancouver Canucks came from behind to take two points, sweeping aside the Columbus Blue Jackets in overtime.

When the dust had settled the Oilers had found themselves in the 8th and final playoff spot, with the Stars falling to 9th, setting up a very intriguing contest at Skyreach on Saturday night.

See ...

The Flames can play meaningful games in late March, they just don't happen to be meaningful to themselves.

The Flames jumped out to a two goal lead in this one on the back of yet another astounding night by Craig Conroy.

Conroy, coming off a two goal - two assist performance against Columbus was up to the same tricks again with a short handed goal in the first period and a powerplay goal in the second.

The two additional goals moves Conroy to the 25 goal mark on the season, a full 11 goals past his previous career best, with eight games on the schedule to do further damage.

The two goal lead held until late in the second period when the Stars struck twice to send the game into overtime.

The two goals came within a minute of each other, both with less than three and a half minutes to play on the clock.

The tie moves the Stars to 81 points in 73 games, two less than the Edmonton Oilers, who have played two additional games.

For Calgary, the tie moves the team to within two points of last year's total with eight games left to play.

The paid attendance at the Pengrowth Saddledome was 16,473.

Next up for Calgary is the visiting Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night.

Scoreboard
	Calgary Flames	2
	Dallas Stars	2

Box Score

FLAMES LINES

OUR THREE STARS

1 Craig Conroy - Break out season just continues to roll along with another two goal performance. 

2 Rob Dimaio - Calgary native scored the late goal to get Dallas back in it, then assisted on the game tying goal. 

3 Roman Turek - Turned aside 33 shots to give his team a chance.

SAVE OF THE GAME

With the Stars pressing midway through the third period Turek was forced to make a series of first and second saves, including a reaching glove save against Pierre Turgeon.

NOTES & STATS

The Stars out shot the Flames by a 36 to 33 margin, including a convincing 17 to eight run in the third period. The Flames spent 27 plus minutes in their own zone, compared to just 24 minutes next to Marty Turco. ...  Jarome Iginla was held off the score sheet once again, stalling his run to the Art Ross and Maurice Richard trophies, at least for a night. Iginla got into this one late firing three of his four shots in the over time frame. ... The Flames and Stars split the game's face off totals at 50% apiece. The Flame's top center was Jeff Shantz who was good for 63% of his draws. ... Jarome Iginla led all Calgary skaters with 26:18 of ice, edging out Derek Morris. The Stars Sergei Zubov played an eye popping 33:05 for Dallas. ... The Flames have public ally stated that their goal now is to get the team to .500 for the first time in five years. The Flames are currently three games under that mark with eight games to play, meaning they'll need to find 11 points in those eight games to hit the mark. A record of 5-2-1, for example, would get it done.