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Iginla, Huselius lift Flames over Wild in shootout

Jan 17, 2008 - 5:26 AM By Mike Weimerskirch PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) -- Jarome Iginla cemented his status as an All-Star and Kristian Huselius made it known that he belongs in Atlanta as well.

Iginla ended the game in the third round of the shootout and Huselius tallied in both the third period and the first round of the bonus format to lead the Calgary Flames to a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday.

Miikka Kiprusoff made 29 saves and stopped both shots in the shootout for the Flames, who snapped a four-game slide with the win.

In the third round of the shootout, Iginla skated in and beat goaltender Niklas Backstrom glove side to end the game.

"I was going to go on the backhand, but at the last second, I decided to shoot," Iginla said. "It was good to see that one go in."

Kiprusoff, making his 24th straight start for Calgary, allowed fewer than three goals for just the third time in his last 11 games. The Finnish netminder improved to 16-3-2 in his career against the Wild.

Kiprusoff made the first save of the shootout against his fellow countryman Mikko Koivu.

"I know Mikko real well," Kiprusoff said. "He beat me with his move last year and was yapping about it."

Both All-Star Dion Phaneuf and Brian Rolston failed to score on slap shots in the second round of the shootout.

"With Rolston, the slap shot is not an easy shot to save," said Kiprusoff, who earned his 23rd win of the season.

David Moss opened the scoring with 7:23 remaining in the second period, lifting a wrist shot over Backstrom from the slot after Craig Conroy won a battle for the puck in the right corner.

Defenseman Brent Burns answered six minutes later on the power play for Minnesota, firing a slap shot past Kiprusoff just six seconds after defenseman Adrian Aucoin was penalized for tripping. All-Star Marian Gaborik and Pavol Demitra were credited with assists on the play.

Huselius put the Flames back on top 74 seconds into the third period, knocking home a rebound on the power play. Iginla was given the primary assist on the play and ranks fourth in the league with 62 points.

"We hadn't been playing well the past few games," Iginla said. "We were trying to stop that and get some momentum again."

Calgary's fortunes have rested with Huselius the past three weeks, winning five straight while the Swede scored six goals and six assists. When Huselius was held scoreless, the Flames lost four straight.

"It's always nice to contribute, but the big thing was the win," Huselius said. "Every game, especially when you play in the division, is tight."

The Wild received their second goal from a defenseman three minutes later as Kurtis Foster fired a slap shot from the blue line for his third goal of the season.

"Early on, I got a few good chances by getting open," Foster said. "I waited long enough for the screen ... it was definitely a good feeling."

Gaborik got the primary assist on that tally as well, giving him multiple points in his last four games.