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VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) – Bob Essensa finally gave up a
goal and the Calgary Flames finally earned a come-from-behind win.
Tommy Albelin's first goal of the season ended Essensa's shutout
streak at 123 minutes, 28 seconds and jump-started a four-goal
third period as the Calgary Flames rallied to beat the Vancouver
Canucks 4-1 on Saturday night.
"That's our biggest third period of the season," said Jarome
Iginla, who had a goal and two assists in the final 20 minutes.
"We know we have to find ways to win when we're not ahead going
into the third period and tonight was a big step for us.
Calgary trailed 1-0 after two periods, but got three goals in
1:21 to win for the second time in as many nights and extend its
unbeaten streak to four games (3-0-1). Albelin's power-play point
shot tied it 1-1 before Dave Lowry, 42 seconds later, and Iginla,
with his 20th goal, gave the Flames their first win when trailing
after two periods (1-18-1-2).
The Canucks came out strongly and peppered the Flames with the
first seven shots of the game, but couldn't beat Fred Brathwaite,
who finished with 34 saves to even his record at 8-8-6.
"It was a chance for me to get in there and stop the first few
shots and give our team a chance to get into the game," said
Brathwaite, who made his first start in five games. "We knew they
were going to come out hard because they knew we played last night
and might be a little tired."
The loss was the first in four games for both goalie Essensa and
the Canucks, who also fell for the first time this season in
regulation when leading after two periods (21-1-1-1).
Essensa ran his shutout streak to 123 minutes, 28 seconds before
Albelin beat him low on the glove side. Lowry scored on a one-timer
from the left faceoff circle and Iginla wristed a shot from the
high slot through Essensa's pads.
"It might have looked like I got rattled, but I don't think I
was," Essensa said. "If I m a 19-year-old kid coming into this
league, it might be a little more difficult to regroup, but I've
seen stretches of 100 minutes-plus without giving up a goal. And
certainly I've seen the opposite, where you give up a bunch in a
hurry."
Essensa was replaced by recently acquired Dan Cloutier after the
third goal, but returned after 1:17 on the bench and was beaten by
Jeff Cowan on a long slap shot.
Calgary had several chances to open the scoring midway through
the period on three straight power plays, including a 45-second
5-on-3 advantage. But the Flames couldn't put the puck past
Essensa. They were 0-for-8 with the man advantage before Albelin's
goal and finished 1-for-9.
"Earlier in the game we felt we were moving the puck pretty
well on the power play and getting the shots that we wanted, but
Essensa was standing on his head," Iginla said. "We just kept at
it and fortunately we were able to get one by him in the third."
Todd Bertuzzi broke a scoreless tie midway in the second period
when he banged a rebound past Brathwaite on a power play. The goal
ended Vancouver's 0-for-27 slump on the power play.
Derek Morris recorded an assist on Lowry's goal to extend his
point streak to four games. He has five assists over that stretch.
Game notes
The Flames are 4-7-0-2 in the second part of
back-to-back games. ... Vancouver defenseman Bryan Helmer played
after being recalled from minor-league affiliate Kansas City on
Friday. ... The crowd of 18,422 was Vancouver's ninth sellout of
the season, six more than last season. ... Vancouver completed the
season series against Calgary with a 3-2 record. ... Bertuzzi's
goal ended the stretch of scoreless hockey in Vancouver at 91
minutes, 49 seconds.
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