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Giguere, Ducks hold off struggling Flames

Feb 7, 2009 - 11:39 PM CALGARY, Alberta (Ticker) -- All-Star goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere has been in and out of the lineup recently due to his struggles in net.

Giguere was sharp Saturday, however, recording 26 saves as the Anaheim Ducks posted a 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames.

Making only his eighth start in the calendar year, the veteran netminder won for just the second time in his last 11 starts.

Giguere lost his shutout bid when Mike Cammalleri registered his 27th goal of the season with 6:54 left in the third period.

"I was able to see the puck very well," Giguere said. "No turnovers, and the guys kept the puck to the outside. Altogether, we played a great game against a great team. I was seeing the puck very well and the guys did a good job moving guys from in front of the net. It was a great road game."

Bobby Ryan scored his 18th of the campaign 4:55 into the first period and Corey Perry added his 20th following a giveaway with 25 seconds left in the second to give the Ducks a 2-0 lead. Ryan is tied with Dallas' James Neal for the league lead in tallies among rookies.

Spelling Miikka Kiprusoff, Curtis McElhinney stopped 23 shots for Calgary in his first home start of the season.

"He gave us a really good, solid NHL game. That's all I ask for," Flames coach Mike Keenan said. "We played three in four nights. This was a short recovery, so I decided to give Miikka a rest."

"It was my first opportunity to play at home," McElhinney added. "I wanted to keep it close and give them a legitimate opportunity to win. I think I did that."

The Flames had a two-man advantage in the final minute as McElhinney was pulled for an extra skater after Anaheim's Brendan Morrison was called for holding with 44 seconds remaining. However, Calgary was unable to register a shot on goal.

"This is much better," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "We're starting to establish ourselves. Between this game and the Nashville game (a 4-2 loss on Thursday), I see some good signs."

The win snapped a two-game losing streak for the Ducks, who are just 5-7-0 in their last 12 contests.

"We've been up and down all year," Giguere said. "It's been tough like that all year. We need to make a point of winning a few like today."

Still owning a comfortable nine-point lead in the Northwest Division, the Flames have hit their worst stretch of the campaign as the defeat extended their losing streak to a season-high-four games.

"I thought it was a very tight first period, with both teams feeling each other out," Keenan said. "Not much offense, a bit of posturing on both sides. Our power play couldn't generate enough on offense."

In a game dominated by defense and goaltending, the Ducks were able to nurse their 1-0 lead until a bad giveaway by Flames defenseman Adam Pardy allowed Anaheim to double its advantage.

Pardy, the last man out of the defensive zone, mishandled a clearing attempt as he put the puck on the stick of Perry, whose shot trickled over McElhinney's shoulder and into the net.

"I think as a team, we played good, and we should feel good about this effort," Giguere said. "Tonight was very controlled."