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Bertuzzi scores winner in shootout for Flames

Jan 22, 2009 - 7:12 AM CALGARY, Alberta (Ticker) -- The Calgary Flames ended the first half of the season the way they finished many times during it - in the winner's circle.

In his return to the lineup following a five-game absence, Todd Bertuzzi scored the lone goal of the shootout in the third round, helping the Flames edge the Columbus Blue Jackets, 5-4, on Wednesday.

Miikka Kiprusoff, who made 29 saves, prevented Columbus from registering a shot on its first two attempts in the bonus format before stopping a backhander by rookie Jakub Voracek in the third round to secure the victory.

Mike Cammalleri scored twice, captain Jarome Iginla netted a goal and set up another and David Moss also tallied for the Flames, who snapped a two-game losing streak.

"It was big because we had lost the last two," Cammalleri said. "I think however it happened tonight, we're going to say we took two points, and that's going to make it pretty sweet going into the (All-Star) break."

R.J. Umberger scored two first-period goals while captain Rick Nash and Voracek also tallied for the Blue Jackets, who received a 27-save performance from rookie Steve Mason.

Mason, who will not be taking part in Saturday's YoungStars Game during All-Star Weekend due to back spasms, entered with a league-leading 1.99 goals-against average.

"To lose it in a shootout is pretty tough, but the break will do everyone on the team good," Mason said. "We'll come back rested and ready to go.

"It's going to be a good time to rest some things on my body. It was a good honor to get selected and I'm pretty disappointed I won't be going, but at the same time, I have to get ready for Columbus Blue Jackets games."

The 20-year-old, who has surrendered 13 goals in his last three games, stopped a hard wrist shot by Cammalleri in the first round of the shootout. Jason Williams then had the puck poked away by Kiprusoff on his attempt.

Iginla's snap shot was stopped by Mason, and Nash completed the second round by failing to get off a shot.

Bertuzzi, who had not played since a 5-2 win over San Jose on January 6 due to a hip injury, then used a nifty deke on Mason before unleashing a backhander into a vacant net.

"Our money was on (Bertuzzi)," Iginla said. "He's usually the guy in the shootout, he's got a lot of different moves. It was great to see him coming out after that rest. A shootout win at home - for him to get that was awesome."

Prior to their brief slide, the Flames had rattled off four consecutive victories and further established themselves as a team with which to be reckoned in the crowded Western Conference.

Entering the break, Calgary (28-14-4) sits atop the Northwest Division with 60 points - nine ahead of second-place Edmonton (24-19-3).

Nash scored a shorthanded goal on a breakaway 2:41 into the third period to give Columbus a 4-3 edge, but Cammalleri forged a tie by firing a wrister from the right faceoff circle past Mason with 7:25 left.

"I think teams take us a lot more serious now," Nash said. "We have an opportunity to win every game, no matter what building we're in, and we definitely proved that tonight."

Cammalleri's 22nd goal of the season forced overtime and helped Calgary avoid dropping three straight in regulation for the first time since November 25-29, 2007.

"I think the key was, I was able to shoot it through a screen," Cammalleri said. "(Mason is) obviously playing well, stopping a lot of pucks, so it's important when he can't see one well to get it through the screen."

After Umberger opened the scoring early in the first, Iginla pulled the Flames even at 9:11. However, Umberger tallied again just 31 seconds later to put Columbus back in front.

"It was a tough game," Iginla said. "They're right on the cusp of a playoff spot, and they always play us hard. We didn't get off to a great start, but we were able to stay in it. They got some big goals, but we were able to come right back. It was nice to get because it was a tough game to play."

Cammalleri forged a 2-2 tie on the power play with 2:20 left in the second, but Voracek recaptured the lead for the Blue Jackets just 10 seconds later.

Moss converted a pass from Dustin Boyd with 90 seconds remaining in the session to even the contest once again.

That was when the Flames turned up the heat, according to coach Mike Keenan.

"We seemed to get some momentum going in the third period, and we had a lot of energy," Keenan said. "We went to the attack more, and when you're doing that, you are going to draw penalties because you are spending a lot of time in the offensive zone. ... And as a result, you can get pucks to the net if you're sharp and you can get to loose pucks and make plays.

"I think that part of our game surfaced as the game went on, and certainly in the third period, the latter portion of the third period."