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Kiprusoff, Flames rout Thrashers to end four-game slide

Feb 14, 2007 - 6:47 AM CALGARY, Alberta (Ticker) -- Goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff made sure Brad Stuart had a happy homecoming.

Kiprusoff stopped 22 shots and Jarome Iginla and Daymond Langkow were both huge as the Calgary Flames snapped a four-game slide with a 4-1 triumph over the Atlanta Thrashers.

A 6-2 defenseman, Stuart was acquired along with center Wayne Primeau from Boston in exchange for Andrew Ference and Chuck Kobasew on Sunday. The Alberta native logged over 23 minutes of ice time with one shot on goal.

"I'm familiar with the area and the city, I played a little bit here and spent a few summers here," Stuart said. "My family is in the area as well so that's something I don't have to worry about as far as being in a brand new city. I'm going to take a little time to get fully comfortable on the ice though."

Langkow scored two goals and Iginla had a goal and two assists as Calgary (30-19-8) moved two points ahead of Vancouver and Minnesota for first place in the Northwest Division.

"We're in a battle right now for a playoff spot so we've got to have that intensity there every game," Langkow said. "Unfortunately, it hasn't been there the last couple of games. It was crucial for us to come out and play well."

The Flames wasted little time taking advantage on the power play in the opening period as Iginla tallied between two goals by Langkow against netminder Kari Lehtonen, who has lost five of his last six outings.

"Our special teams have been really good for us over the last 10 games or so, but at the same time our 5-on-5 play has slipped a little," Langkow said. "(Tuesday) we were a lot better in our own end."

"It's been a struggle on the road lately," Lehtonen said. "There's always one period that we don't play well. We need to get that out of the way and put together a solid 60 minutes."

In the second period, Iginla assisted Alex Tanguay, who scored his 17th goal of the season with 11:14 remaining to extend the lead to 4-1.

Lehtonen had 23 saves and Denis Hamel tallied for Atlanta, which has dropped three straight games to fall to 1-3 on its six-game road trip.

"That's been the hard part for us the past couple of weeks," Lehtonen said.

Atlanta (30-21-9) is just three points in front of Tampa Bay atop the Southeast Division.