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Calgary holds off Colorado

Nov 13, 2011 - 6:22 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Lee Stempniak had a goal and an assist, as the Calgary Flames hung on for a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.

The Flames, who halted a two-game skid, grabbed a 4-0 lead on goals by Paul Byron, Jarome Iginla, Curtis Glencross and Stempniak.

Miikka Kiprusoff made 36 saves for Calgary, but allowed goals to Milan Hejduk, Matt Duchene and David Jones as Colorado stormed back.

In the end, the Avalanche, who got 16 saves from Semyon Varlamov, couldn't complete the comeback, suffering their fifth loss in six games.

Byron registered his first goal as a Flame 2:06 into the game, speeding into the Avs zone and beating Varlamov with a wrister for a 1-0 lead.

At the 5:47 mark, Iginla grabbed a loose puck and fired a backhand upstairs for a 2-0 advantage.

Shortly after a power play, Glencross wristed a shot top shelf off the rush to make it a 3-0 game and Stempniak's backhander midway through the second gave Calgary a 4-0 lead.

The Avs, though, would rally.

"In the second we seemed to gain some momentum," said Hejduk, who got Colorado on the board by slapping a rebound out of the air and past Kiprusoff.

Less than a minute into the third, Duchene tallied with a wrister to make it 4-2.

At the 15:25 mark, Jones' slap shot from the blue line cut the Flames' lead to one.

In the waning minutes, the Avs pulled Varlamov and went on the power play due a delay of game. Still, they could not register the equalizer.

"The home team is never out of it playing in their own home," said Iginla. "We were glad to hold on."

Game Notes

Calgary improved to 3-0 in the season series with Colorado...The Flames have won eight in a row over the Avalanche.