Flames 3 - 5 Predators
Final
  for this game

Iginla, Flames celebrate new year in Nashville

Jan 1, 2012 - 3:30 PM (Sports Network) - A milestone goal defeated the Calgary Flames last time out.

They wouldn't mind their captain ringing in the new year with a career achievement of his own.

Jarome Iginla continues his quest for 500 goals this evening as the Flames visit the Nashville Predators and stingy goaltender Pekka Rinne in the only scheduled NHL contest on New Year's Day.

Iginla has scored seven goals over his past 13 games to push his career total to 498. He is on the verge of becoming the 42nd player in league history to reach the 500-goal mark and would be the 15th to score all of those goals with one club.

The 34-year-old was held to just an assist on Friday in Ottawa as the Flames scored three times in the first period only to watch it all evaporate on the way to a 4-3 overtime loss to the Senators.

Ottawa won the game 3:31 into the extra frame when the Sens' Daniel Alfredsson scored on a one-time for his 400th career tally. It was one of four goals Calgary backup Leland Irving allowed on 49 shots.

"Disappointing," said Irving. "We got the start we wanted. We just ran out of gas."

Rene Bourque scored just 23 seconds into the game before Curtis Glencross and Chris Butler added tallies for the Flames, who fell to 2-1-1 on a seven-game road trip and will look to avoid a third straight loss as they continue their longest swing of the season. Calgary also fell to 13-0-2 when leading after two periods.

Olli Jokinen did not have a point in Friday's loss, but has logged seven goals and 17 points in his past 15 games. The Finn is slated to skate in his 1,000th career NHL game this evening.

Iginla and Jokinen will likely be going up against Rinne, who made 35 saves on Friday versus the Blues and stopped all five skaters he faced in the shootout to lead his team to a 2-1 victory.

Matt Halischuk scored in the first period and Martin Erat had the game-winner in the tiebreaker for the Predators, who won their second straight game in a shootout.

"It's a big win and a nice way to finish 2011," said Rinne. "The last couple of games we've been battling hard. Against St. Louis, it's always difficult, but we always seem to rise to the occasion."

The pressure has been on Rinne as of late as 11 of Nashville's 14 games last month were decided by just one goal. He has stopped 69 of 71 shots faced in Nashville's back-to-back wins and 14 of the 16 skaters he has faced in four shootouts this season.

Nashville, which has won six of its last seven at home, remains without captain and star defenseman Shea Weber due to a concussion, while forward Colin Wilson sat out last game with an upper-body injury and is questionable for this contest.

The Predators and Flames split a pair of shutout victories in Calgary to kick off their four-game season series before Nashville grabbed the advantage with a 2-1 win at home on Dec. 13. Halischuk scored in the opening period and Wilson netted the game-winner in the third.

Glencross scored the goal for the Flames, who have still won five of the past seven meetings overall despite having a six-game win streak in Nashville halted.






Related News