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Conroy, Yelle propel Flames to top of division

Jan 23, 2008 - 6:22 AM CALGARY, Alberta (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Wild's stay at the top of the Northwest Division did not last long.

Craig Conroy scored the game-winner and Stephane Yelle had a goal and set up another as the Calgary Flames won their third straight contest with a 2-1 victory over the Wild on Tuesday night.

Miikka Kiprusoff made 23 saves for the Flames, who regained first place in the division with the victory. Minnesota briefly grabbed the lead after defeating the Vancouver Canucks, 4-2, on Monday.

"To be in first place in a really tight division is a good step," Calgary coach Mike Keenan said. "If you can develop that kind of depth with secondary scoring, it takes a lot of pressure off the fellows that are going to be checked the hardest. Tonight was a playoff game. That's how you win 2-1 and with secondary scoring."

"It's just so tight every night. You can't take any nights off," Conroy said. "We knew it going out there in the third period that Colorado lost (to Nashville). It's important. We want to be there. We want to stay there."

Conroy, who has now tallied in back-to-back games for the first time this season, broke a 1-1 tie at 8:36 of the third period with his eighth goal.

"The last break we had, I passed up one to the Devils," Conroy said. "This one to get the winner is extra special."

Yelle started the play by stealing the puck from defenseman Nick Schultz and delivering a quick feed to Owen Nolan, who made a touch pass to Conroy in the slot.

Conroy converted by unleashing a backhander just inside the left post past goaltender Josh Harding.

The Wild thought they had tied the contest with just over three minutes left when blue-liner Brent Burns' slap shot smacked the left goalpost, caromed off the right post, and then hit the left post again before bouncing back to Kiprusoff, who made the save.

"It's lucky, lucky bounce," Kiprusoff said. "It went post to post and out. It's pretty nice. Not too many minutes left."

"It's unbelievable. It can only happen in the (Pengrowth) Saddledome," Burns said. "Post to post to post. It's a bad bounce."

The play was started when Harding connected on a pass to Burns at the opposite blue line and the blue-liner fired a fluttering shot from the left faceoff circle that momentarily fooled Kiprusoff.

Harding turned aside 35 shots for the Wild, who have just one win in their last 13 visits to Calgary.

"We just can't get over that at the Saddledome," Burns said. "I don't know. I guess it's tough. For us in the room before the game, we don't think about it. Sometimes, it just doesn't go well."

Calgary tied the game at 1-1 when Yelle notched his third tally of the season at 2:12 of the second period.

Brian Rolston opened the scoring for Minnesota at 3:31 of the opening session with his 16th goal of the season and second in as many games.

"I thought we played with a lot more composure and a lot more poise than we have in the past, especially in this building," Rolston said. "We know it's a tough building to come in here and win hockey games."