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Iginla gets four points as Flames scorch Blues

Dec 17, 2008 - 7:29 AM ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Captain Jarome Iginla scored two goals and set up two others as the Calgary Flames snapped a three-game losing streak with a 6-3 triumph over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.

Matthew Lombardi had a goal and two assists and Craig Conroy and defenseman Cory Sarich each had a pair of assists for the Flames, who have posted a 3-1-2 record over their last six contests.

Michael Cammalleri, Daymond Langkow and blue-liner Adrian Aucoin also scored and Miikka Kiprusoff made 28 saves for Calgary, which has defeated the Blues five straight times - including twice this season.

Kiprusoff is a major factor in the Flames' success against the Blues, posting a 13-3-1 career record against St. Louis.

"I've had a lot of streaks lately of two good followed by one bad, and I know I can do better," Kiprusoff said. "I don't want to think about it too much because then I'll lose the next game. I just try to do the same stuff every night, and tonight, it was enough."

Rookie Patrik Berglund, Brad Boyes and David Backes netted a goal apiece for St. Louis, which hasn't beaten the Flames since November 25, 2007.

Iginla notched both his goals in the first period, staking Calgary a 2-0 edge into the intermission. He opened the scoring at 4:14 by deflecting Sarich's shot past Blues goaltender Chris Mason.

The 31-year-old struck again with 2:22 left, scoring on a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle after Conroy won a battle for the puck along the boards and delivered a pass to Iginla.

"He (Iginla) had a great game. He had a leadership game and you expect that from your best players," Calgary coach Mike Keenan said. "He was engaged tonight, and it looked like that right from the start. Of course, it's good to know you're going to get that effort from a player more often than not - and more often than most."

The Blues were, once again, impressed by Iginla, who has 16 goals and 21 assists this season.

"He is one of the best guys in the league," said St. Louis defenseman Barret Jackman, who was on the ice for three of the four goals involving Iginla. "He's got a quick release, he's physical and he's their leader."

"I don't think we really were ready to play in the first period. They're a hard-working team and, if you don't match, they're going to walk all over you," Mason said. "They set the tone in the first, we battled back in the second, but made timely mistakes, and we just couldn't keep coming back all night."

Lombardi added to lead at 6:51 of the middle session, but Berglund scored 31 seconds later and Boyes netted a power-play goal with 9:29 left to cut the deficit to 3-2.

The Flames did not have to sweat for long as Iginla made a perfect cross-ice pass to set up Cammalleri's man-advantage goal with 7:51 remaining in the second.

"Jarome Iginla, who may be the best forward in the game, made a great play to Cammalleri," Blues coach Andy Murray said. "Chris (Mason) honored the shot, which you have to when it's Iginla, and it improved the angle for Cammalleri."

Iginla also set up a 2-on-1 rush for Lombardi, whose pass was touched home by Aucoin at the right post to make it 5-2 with 1:59 left in the period.

For Iginla, who entered pointless in consecutive games for the first time since the first two contests of the season, it was his 799th career point.

"I didn't know I was that close to 800," Iginla said. "But, I was thankful for the points. I needed to get going again. When I get involved, it helps our team"

Mason turned aside 25 shots for the Blues, who have lost four straight games.

"We can't get away from our system," Mason said. "We have to annoy teams and make it difficult to get opportunities. That's the only way we're going to win games."