Flames 1 - 0 Canucks
Final
  for this game

Flames' Ortio shuts out Canucks in season debut

Jan 11, 2015 - 6:54 AM Vancouver, BC (SportsNetwork.com) - Joni Ortio's first start of the season was a memorable one, as the 23-year-old netminder shut out the Vancouver Canucks and carried the Calgary Flames to a 1-0 victory -- the club's first over its Pacific Division rival in nearly two years.

Ortio was recalled from Adirondack of the AHL on Friday and gave Jonas Hiller the night off. He was peppered with 36 shots and, with the help of the post on several occasions, denied every one of them.

"The guys did a heck of a job in front of me," Ortio said. "We kept them on the outside pretty much the whole game. They didn't get a lot of Grade-A chances."

Mikael Backlund provided the game-winning goal on Calgary's first shot.

The Flames, who came in 0-3-0 in the new year, had dropped nine straight against the Canucks, their previous win coming on Mar. 3, 2013.

Eddie Lack saved all but one of the 23 shots he faced in the loss.

"Sometimes you play well and don't win, that was tonight," Canucks head coach Willie Desjardins said.

It took 5:38 for the Flames to record their first shot, but they made it count. A turnover in the neutral zone resulted in a rush the other way, and David Jones fed Backlund in front for his fourth goal of the season.

The Canucks had a goal disallowed with 4:29 remaining in the second when it was ruled Henrik Sedin knocked the puck in with a high stick.

Vancouver, which did not have a power play the entire game, only recorded eight shots in the third period after keeping Ortio busy with 28 over the first two.

The best chance came in the final minute with Lack pulled, but Ortio secured a loose puck in the crease just in time.

Game Notes

Ortio went 4-4-0 in nine games with Calgary late last season ... Vancouver went 2-3-0 on its five-game homestand ... Flames defenseman Mark Giordano and Canucks forward Radim Vrbata were both named to the All-Star Game on Saturday, while Flames rookie forward Johnny Gaudreau was chosen to participate in the skills competition.






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