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Kiprusoff, Ritchie help Flames complete successful homestand

Jan 10, 2007 - 5:55 AM CALGARY, Alberta (Ticker) -- Thanks to Miikka Kiprusoff and Byron Ritchie, the Calgary Flames ended their homestand on a positive note.

Kiprusoff made 26 saves and Ritchie remained red-hot to lead the Flames to a 3-0 victory over the Minnesota Wild.

Calgary completed a 5-1-0 homestand and improved to 17-5-0 at the Pengrowth Saddledome this season.

"We've been pretty good at home all year," Kiprusoff said. "We're happy with how we've been playing at home. We need these points, and it was no different tonight."

"We weren't good tonight," Minnesota's Brian Rolston said. "We have to figure out how to win on the road. It's something we have to figure out, and we need to figure out quick, because we have a game coming up in Vancouver."

Kiprusoff turned aside eight shots in the first period, 10 in the second and eight in the third en route to his fifth shutout of the season and 22nd career. He also picked up his 100th career win.

"I knew it was going to be 100 (career wins) if we win, but it's not that big of a deal for me right now," Kiprusoff said.

The Finnish native improved to 4-0-1 in his last five games while only allowing 11 goals.

Ritchie scored his fourth goal in his last three games, a shorthanded tally, at 6:54 of the third period. He cut toward the net, took a spin-around backhand pass from Matthew Lombardi and beat goaltender Niklas Backstrom to give the Flames a 3-0 lead.

"When you're playing a lot, contributing and winning, that's the main thing," Ritchie said. "It's been been enjoyable and as long as the team keeps winning. That's the important thing.

"It feels good to score the goals, but I still have to do the little things, like playing physical and blocking shots."

Daymond Langkow scored and defenseman Mark Giordano notched a 5-on-3 power-play tally in the first period for the Flames, who play six of their final nine games this month on the road.

Langkow has four goals and four assists in his last eight games. Giordano, who has four goals this season, has two in his last three games.

Backstrom finished with 22 saves for Minnesota, which fell to 0-10-1 in its last 11 road games. The Wild were 0-for-5 on the power play.

"We have to create more offense, I think that's a big concern for us on the road," Minnesota's Keith Carney said. "We just don't create enough, especially with the man advantage. We need to do a better job with that area."