Calgary Flames 4 Minnesota Wild 2

Flames Outlast Scrappy Wild for 8th Win

Rick Charlton

October 27th, 2001

The Calgary Flames entered this season knowing they would have to score by committee.

But the early going continues to be a one man show.

Although Clarke Wilm and Chris Clark, two players the Flames need to pop the occasional goal, came through with their first markers of the season, it was once again old standby Jarome Iginla who stood up in the clutch and led the Flames to a 4-2 victory at the Saddledome last night.

Iginla put up his eighth of the season and added an assist as he extended his point streak to six games and retained control of the NHL scoring derby with 19 points.

The Flames right winger continues his dramatic bid for a spot on Canada's Olympic roster and has participated in a startling 19 of Calgary's 35 goals this year.

With the victory the Flames run their home record to 5-0-0-2 this season and retain their share atop the overall league standings with the Detroit Red Wings.

"That's a big win, with the break in games coming up", Iginla told Calgarypuck.com

"We really concentrated on the first period, getting off to good starts in games has been a big part of our success this year".

Craig Conroy continues to impress with his overall two way play, adding the other Flame goal as well as an assist, giving him 12 points in 12 games this year, an offensive dimension the Flames probably weren't expecting when they acquired him last year.

"I'm surprised", a pleased yet baffled Conroy commented on his offensive outburst.

"Gibby knew I could score, he just told me it might not come around right away, but to be patient".

Clarke Wilm opened scoring at 12:32 on a nice behind the pass from Ronald Petrovicky. Wilm had been left alone in front by the usually diligent Minnesota defence and blew a shot over the shoulder of Minnesota starter Dwayne Roloson.

Marian Gaborik tied the score at 2:49 of the second with a one-timer from a great pass by Jim Dowd, a powerplay marker with Clark off for slashing.

Calgary jumped ahead at 7:36 on the powerplay when they swarmed the Wild net, with Iginla finally tapping the puck behind Roloson while the Wild stood around thinking their netminder had the puck surrounded.

Flames then jumped ahead 3-1 at 2:48 of the third with Roloson misplaying the puck behind his net, giving Iginla a free pass to Conroy in the slot, where the Flame centre drilled a one-timer into an empty cage.

Minnesota responded only 21 seconds later when Matt Johnson batted a crazy rebound past Turek at 3:09.

But Clark put the Wild down for good at 11:29, deflecting home a slick back hand cross-crease pass off the stick of Rob Niedermayer.

Turek, now 8-2 on the season, made some workmanlike saves but didn't have to be a big factor in this game, stopping 19 of 21 shots. Roloson faced 28 Flames shots.

Calgary was one for three on the powerplay while Minnesota was one for four.

Minnesota has now been outscored an astonishing 21-8 when playing five on five so far this season. Only their league leading power play has given Minnesota their deceptively good record early in the campaign.

The Flames continue to suffer somewhat at the gate with only 14,088 coming through the turnstiles. The principle of "win and they will come" has still to come into play as far as Calgary is concerned. Then again, any game with teams like Minnesota and Nashville and their mind-numbing defensive style is likely a date any sensible hockey fan will try to avoid.

Box Score


OUR THREE STARS

1) JAROME IGINLA - Where would the Flames be without him at this point.

2) CRAIG CONROY - Five shots, a goal and an assist and a 57% winning percentage in the face off circle. In other words, an average night.

3) MARIAN GABORIK - Seven shots and dangerous all night


SAVE OF THE GAME

Turek stabbed a pad in front of a Dowd one-timer in the middle of the second period, a sharp save at a critical time of the game.


HIT OF THE GAME

It wasn't a hit in an otherwise fairly hitless contest but Jamie Allison fighting massive Minnesota killer Matt Johnson deserves this award on courage alone.


GAME NOTES

The Flames didn't have 18 points until Dec. 13 last year. . . . . Calgary was 54% in the faceoff circle, led by the the guys they need to be solid in this area, Niedermayer with a 61% winning percentage, Conroy at 57% and Steve Begin at 70%. Only Wilm at 44% was underwater. Darby Hendrikson was 55% for Minnesota. . . . . Hits were even at 21 apiece with Ronald Petrovicky, no surprise, leading the Flames with three. Johnson had five for Minnesota ... Surprisingly, the pairing of Bob Boughner (24:20) and Igor Kravchuk (24:07) lead the Flames in ice time. Filip Kuba played 25:05 minutes for Minnesota. . . . . .