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Flames begin post-Sutter era against visiting Avs

Dec 31, 2010 - 4:31 PM (Sports Network) - The Calgary Flames have a new set of eyes watching them and will try to impress their new general manager with their first three-game winning streak in over two months in a battle with the Colorado Avalanche at the Saddledome.

The Flames have been out of action since Monday when they recorded a 5-2 home victory over the Sabres. That second straight victory, which was also the club's fourth in five home games, has put Calgary in position to win a season high-tying three in a row for the first time since Oct. 22-26.

The following day, general manager Darryl Sutter announced his resignation, with assistant GM Jay Feaster taking over the role on an interim basis. Sutter had led the Flames to the Stanley Cup Finals as the team's head coach in 2004.

Feaster probably likes what he sees so far from Olli Jokinen, who had a goal and an assist in Monday's win. Jokinen has six goals and nine points over his last nine games after scoring just twice in his first 25 contests. He has totaled seven goals and eight assists in 21 career games against Colorado.

David Moss also had a goal and an assist, Jarome Iginla scored and Miikka Kiprusoff made 25 saves, including 12 during a perfect middle period.

"It was probably a little bit slow on both sides. To their credit, they came out and won the first period," Iginla said.

The Avalanche will try to build a win streak tonight after halting a three- game slide with last night's 4-3 shootout victory in Edmonton. Milan Hejduk scored the lone goal of the breakaway session and Craig Anderson ended with 32 saves.

Paul Stastny and T.J. Galiardi both had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche, who have won four straight on the road. Stastny is now just one point shy of becoming the 11th player in Avalanche/Nordiques history to reach 300 in a career and has 12 goals and 22 assists in 27 games versus the Flames.

"I thought today was kind of up in the air, I think," Stastny said. "We dominated the first half, they dominated the second half, we had our chances, they had their chances, and in the end we capitalized on one of the shootouts and Andy made some big saves for us."

Thomas Fleischmann also scored during a three-goal first period for the Avs, who are four points back of the Canucks for first place in the Northwest Division.

The Flames and Avalanche have split a pair of meetings this year with each winning on enemy ice. Colorado has won seven of the last 10 meetings overall and four straight in Calgary.