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Sanford makes 40 saves as Canucks edge Flames

Sep 29, 2007 - 4:10 AM CALGARY, Alberta (Ticker) -- The Vancouver Canucks may have found Roberto Luongo a suitable backup.

Curtis Sanford made 40 saves and defenseman Lukas Krajicek snapped a tie in the third period as the Canucks defeated the Calgary Flames, 3-2, in a preseason matchup Friday.

Sanford, who was acquired from the St. Louis Blues in the offseason, was peppered with shots all night but kept Vancouver in the game. He was under fire in the second, stopping 19 of the 20 shots he faced in the period.

Sanford was essential to the Canucks' penalty-killing. Even though Vancouver was shorthanded for nearly 12 minutes, including three 5-on-3 advantages, Sanford held Calgary scoreless on 10 man advantages, which included 11 shots on goal.

Krajicek's goal gave the Canucks a 3-2 edge early in the third period. The 24-year-old defenseman blasted a slap shot from the point that found its way past goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff.

After Wayne Primeau gave Calgary a 1-0 lead by banking a wrist shot from the left corner off Sanford just over nine minutes into the game, Vancouver's Brad Isbister scored on a backhander with 81 seconds remaining in the opening period to forge a tie.

The teams exchanged goals in the second period, as Flames captain Jarome Iginla and the Canucks' Trevor Linden tallied 6 1/2 minutes apart.

Calgary right wing Owen Nolan, who was signed in the offseason after spending the 2006-07 campaign with the Phoenix Coyotes, left the game in the first period with a minor groin strain. A team spokesman stated the injury was not serious and the move was a precautionary measure.