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Bertuzzi tallies in closing seconds as Flames burn Predators

Jan 4, 2009 - 12:48 AM By Jim Diamond PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Todd Bertuzzi scored with 24 seconds remaining in the third period to lift the Calgary Flames to a 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Saturday.

Curtis Glencross and Daymond Langkow also scored, David Moss collected a pair of assists and Bertuzzi added one for Calgary, which extended its winning streak to five games.

Jerred Smithson and captain Jason Arnott tallied for the Predators, who have dropped four in a row.

"They are No. 1 in the Northwest (Division), and we have not had a lot of success against the Northwest this season," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "It is disappointing. I think we should have had at least one point, for sure."

Bertuzzi gathered a loose puck in the right faceoff circle and beat goaltender Dan Ellis to give the Flames their first lead of the contest.

"Craig (Conroy) did a good gob getting it down low, fed me in the slot, and I was able to make a good shot," Bertuzzi said. "It was good to come back from behind and win again."

"He's a game-breaking player," Calgary coach Mike Keenan said of Bertuzzi. "To go to the net and have the patience, the poise and the skill to put it in the top shelf, that is just talent. The most important thing that he showed was poise. He gave himself a lot of time to make that play."

Smithson scored the game's first goal at 9:11 of the opening period.

Radek Bonk outraced Calgary defenseman Robyn Regehr for the puck behind the Flames' net. Bonk skated to the right corner and passed to Smithson, who corralled the puck in the right circle and sent a wrist shot by netminder Miikka Kiprusoff.

"We have to find a way to play some good hockey and win," Smithson said. "We talked about it before the game. They are good at getting pucks to the net, and obviously, we did not learn."

Glencross tied the game with 76 seconds remaining in the first.

Behind the net, Glencross was the recipient of a nice backhand pass from Matthew Lombardi. Glencross carried the puck to the low slot, where he caught Ellis looking over the wrong shoulder and sent a backhander high to the stick side for his sixth goal of the season.

Arnott put the Predators ahead at 11:57 of the second.

From the left corner, Martin Erat found J.P. Dumont in the left circle. Dumont froze Kiprusoff by faking a slap shot, then passed to Arnott, who converted an easy tap-in from the left side for his team-leading 15th tally.

Arnott, who had not scored in 11 games, has netted two in his last three contests.

Langkow forged a 2-2 tie with 7:14 to go in the third.

Langkow's goal was almost identical to Glencross' earlier in the game. Langkow skated out from behind the net and lifted a backhander over Ellis' right shoulder for his 11th of the season.

"I got a pass from Bert behind the net and I just tried to get it out front as quickly as I could," Langkow said. "It kind of rolled. I think that it kind of hit off of (Ellis') back and went in."

"There was a loose puck, and I ended up winning the battle and got it over to Langkow," Bertuzzi said. "Daymond had quick hands getting it from his backhand to his forehand and getting it in the net."

Ellis made 23 saves, while Kiprusoff stopped 24 shots.

"We have one little bad play that turns out to be the game-winning goal," Ellis said. "Those are the little things we really need to bear down on - those errors - because that is what is costing us."