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Iginla scores in shootout as Flames down Wild

Mar 1, 2007 - 7:41 AM CALGARY, Alberta (Ticker) -- Jarome Iginla taught goaltender Josh Harding a tough lesson about life in shootouts.

Iginla scored the shootout clincher and defenseman Robyn Regehr netted his second goal of the campaign in the third period to lead the Calgary Flames to a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild.

Calgary won for the first time in six shootouts this season and raised its home record to a league-best 27-6-1. The victory moved the Flames into a first-place tie with the Vancouver Canucks in the Northwest Division, one point ahead of the Wild.

"With Minnesota, we have a lot of tight games against them," Iginla said. "They're notorious for those real shut-it-down games, especially when they have the lead. ... This last stretch, we're trying to catch Vancouver and pull ahead of Minnesota and also get consistent with our game."

Entering 1-for-10 in shootouts this season, Iginla came through in the third round with a quick wrister in the slot that beat Harding inside the left goalpost.

"I've been cold for a while (in shootouts)," Iginla said. "I was fortunate it went off the post and in. It was a good bounce."

"I just felt that (Iginla) should be in a position when the game (is) on the line to give him a chance to do what he can do best and that's why I picked him," Calgary coach Jim Playfair said.

Harding replaced starter Niklas Backstrom, who left after the first period with what was described as an "lower-body injury", and stopped 21 shots in only his second appearance of the season.

"(Iginla) is probably one of the most talented guys in the league," Harding said. "For him to score in the shootout softens the blow a little bit, but unfortunately, we got the loss. I thought I had it covered pretty good. He found the hole and made a good shot and beat me."

"(Harding) came in and played terrific," Minnesota left wing Brian Rolston said. "For a kid to come in, I don't think he (has) played in about a month. To come in and do what he did was great and we have a lot of confidence in him. Tonight, he proved that he could play."

Calgary netminder Miikka Kiprusoff sealed the triumph by making a pad stop on Pierre-Marc Bouchard's spinning shot on the doorstep.

"It (has) been some tough times (in the shootouts)," Kiprusoff said. "We've been talking about it a lot. I'm going in the right direction right now. For me, there's only one way to go. Today was good."

"They have a great goalie over there," Rolston said. "They have a lot of skill players up front. You win some. You lose some. Obviously, it's disappointing when you lose that extra point. At the same time, we felt pretty good about the way we played tonight."

After Pavol Demitra scored a power-play goal at 1:50 of the third period to give Minnesota a 1-0 lead, Regehr tied it with 4:31 left in regulation with a one-timer into the top right corner of the net.

"We were getting a few shots near the end of the game," Regehr said. "It was nice that one finally went in. I thought Kristian (Huselius) made a real good play coming across the blue line and gave me a great pass. I believe it was David Moss that was in front and screened the goalie."

Kiprusoff made 28 saves for just his fourth victory in nine decisions for the Flames.

Minnesota had its three-game winning streak ended and slipped to 2-11-4 all-time here. It was the Wild's fourth loss in 13 overall contests.

"That's a good team," Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire said. "We went to a shootout and we lost our top goalie. You get in a shootout and you never know what's going to happen. Talking about shootouts, we talked about it this morning and we're so good in the shootout. Now you won't talk about it."