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Iginla, Cammalleri help Flames sting Blue Jackets

Feb 25, 2009 - 5:32 AM CALGARY, Alberta (Ticker) -- Captain Jarome Iginla scored two goals and set up two others and Mike Cammalleri recorded a goal and two assists to lead the Calgary Flames to a 4-1 triumph over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.

Defenseman Dion Phaneuf also tallied and Miikka Kiprusoff made 28 saves for the Flames, who have won three games in a row and six of their last eight.

"Their best players were their best players tonight," Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock said. "That's what they needed. Kiprusoff was really good early, Iginla and Cammalleri were very good, and Phaneuf was very good. They had it going."

R.J. Umberger scored and rookie Steve Mason stopped 24 shots for the Blue Jackets, who opened their three-game trip through Western Canada on a sour note after winning six of their previous eight contests.

Phaneuf snapped a 1-1 tie with a power-play goal with 8:03 left in the second period after orchestrating a give-and-go with Cammalleri along the left wing boards. Phaneuf skated into the high slot and unleashed a slap shot past Mason, who was screened by David Moss.

"I'm a firm believer that power-play goals go in most time because of a great screen and I think that's what Moss did there," Cammalleri said.

Cammalleri provided the two-goal bulge with 4:48 remaining in the middle session, netting his team-leading 30th goal of the season.

The cushion was more than enough for the Flames, who allowed just seven shots in each of the last two periods en route to improving to 21-7-4 at home this season.

"We got much better as the game went on, I thought we had a bit of a slow start," Calgary coach Mike Keenan said. "Miikka was really sharp to begin the game and once we established the lead, I thought we played well defensively.

"Probably the most outstanding thing I could comment on tonight was the leadership of our group, (defenseman) Robyn (Regehr) killing penalties, Jarome taking charge, (defenseman) Cory Sarich and Kipper."

Iginla added an empty-netter with 31 ticks to play for his 24th goal of the campaign to seal the win for Calgary.

"I'm feeling the puck better, and I think as a line we're getting sharper and creating more chances," Iginla said. "I think we're all starting to feel a lot better. Cammy's been going for awhile, but the rest of us are catching up."

"I think he's (Iginla) been solid for us all year, being a leader and doing the intangibles that some people don't see on a daily basis," Cammalleri said. "Nights like tonight, it shows on the scoresheet. But he's always providing for us one way or another."

Iginla, who has four goals in the last four games, opened the scoring just 45 seconds into the contest. But Umberger answered that tally less than 2 1/2 minutes later to level the contest at 1-1.

"It's a tough place to come into," Columbus captain Rick Nash said. "They have a good team, a good crowd and they play a rough style. I wish I had the answer why we can't win here."