• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Giordano's overtime goal caps Flames' comeback win

Jan 5, 2007 - 7:11 AM CALGARY, Alberta (Ticker) -- Defenseman Mark Giordano could not have picked a more dramatic time to break out of his scoring drought.

Giordano netted his third goal of the season with 30 seconds left in overtime after rookie David Moss and Byron Ritchie scored in the final 3:06 of the third period to lead the Calgary Flames to a 5-4 victory over the Florida Panthers.

Calgary has won three of its last four at home since having its 10-game home winning streak snapped by Vancouver on December 26. The Flames also posted their third triumph in four contests overall.

"It's unbelievable," Calgary goaltender Jamie McLennan said. "You never want to be on the other end of that game. We seem to find a way to win. This building is something special to us."

Giordano scored his first goal since October 14, when he fired a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle that beat netminder Alex Auld at 4:30 of the extra session.

"It was awesome, just to get out there late and get a chance," Giordano said. "It was a good pass from Dion (Phaneuf) over to me. I saw Stephane (Yelle) in front, screening Auld. I just put it to the net."

The game was tied at 2-2 in the third when Rostislav Olesz netted consecutive tallies for his first multi-goal game of the season for Florida.

Olesz's first goal came midway through the period, when he knocked the rebound of Martin Gelinas's shot past McLennan, who was making just his fourth start of the campaign. His second goal was a wrister from the right point that found the top left corner of the net with 3:54 left in regulation.

After Ritchie cut the deficit to 4-3 for Calgary just 48 seconds later, Moss tied it with 98 seconds remaining, when he stuffed the puck between Auld's pads. It was the 25-year-old's fourth goal in seven career games.

"That's why putting pucks behind the defensemen is a rhythm for your team, getting everybody to do the same thing," Flames coach Jim Playfair said. "It's going to create a lot more scoring chances for everybody across the board. It's pretty simple."

"It's really disappointing because I thought we worked really hard," Panthers coach Jacques Martin said. "I thought we had a pretty good game. We (had a) short bench and it was nice to see the guys come back in the third period. We got some production from different people. It's unfortunate."

Alex Tanguay scored a goal and set up another and McLennan stopped 38 shots for Calgary.

The Flames lost right wing Chuck Kobasew to injury in the first period after a collision with Florida defenseman Bryan Allen. Captain Jarome Iginla, who scored Calgary's first goal, left midway through the second session following a fight with Allen.

"I didn't see the hit (on Kobasew)," Ritchie said. "Anytime one of your teammates gets injured like that, it's not a good feeling. And (Iginla), being the captain and the leader, stepped up and let (Allen) know it wasn't acceptable."

"You never want to see one of your players get hit like that," Giordano said. "It's always tough on the team."

Defenseman Jay Bouwmeester had a goal and two assists and Auld made 24 saves for the Panthers, who have dropped three of five.

"It was a good lesson for us," Auld said. "You can't get too carried away, too complacent or you let two goals in like that. You saw how good teams find ways to battle back. I think all of us, in our minds, just relaxed just that little bit, and it cost us."