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Tanguay's OT tally lifts Flames over Blue Jackets

Feb 8, 2013 - 4:15 AM Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - Alex Tanguay netted the decisive goal 1:07 into overtime to lift the Calgary Flames over the Columbus Blue Jackets, 4-3, at Nationwide Arena.

Roman Cervenka, Mikael Backlund and Lee Stempniak also scored for the Flames, who have won two straight games for the first time this season.

Leland Irving got the start in place of an injured Miikka Kiprusoff and made 26 saves to earn the win.

Mark Letestu and Vinny Prospal each had a goal and an assist and Matt Calvert also lit the lamp for Columbus, which has dropped two straight and four of its last five. Sergei Bobrovsky allowed all four goals on 30 shots.

"We have to figure it out. For twenty minutes we're good and then we lose our game, and when it's gone, it's gone. It's not just for one or two shifts, it's for an extended period of time," Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards said.

The game entered the third period tied at 2-2, and as time was winding down on a power play after Columbus' Derick Brassard was whistled for hooking, Stempniak raced down the right side of the ice and unleashed a slap shot from the top of the circle that sailed over the left shoulder of Bobrovsky and under the crossbar 8:33 into the frame.

But Columbus was able to tie the game again 2 1/2 minutes later, when Prospal grabbed a drop pass in the slot and wristed a shot past Irving's glove side.

The Blue Jackets later received a power play for the final 1:50 of regulation, but they could not convert to force overtime.

Columbus then controlled the opening minute of the extra period, but Irving turned aside both shots he faced before a Calgary rush resulted in Tanguay ripping a one-timer from the right circle that deflected off the base of Bobrovsky's glove and across the goal line for the game-winner.

"We didn't get the first period that we wanted, but in the second and third periods we were on the puck and we made some great plays," Flames coach Bob Hartley said. "It was another good night. I'm very proud of the boys."

Calgary struck first 4:19 into the first period when Cervenka redirected a Dennis Wideman one-timer from the right point, but the Blue Jackets answered just 25 seconds later with Calvert's wrister from the left circle that slipped inside the far post.

Columbus then took the lead at the 9:37 mark of the opening frame while on the power play. Brassard sent a cross-ice pass from the right circle to the left, where Letestu ripped a one-timer into an open net for a 2-1 advantage.

The Flames, however, tied the game with the lone goal of the second period, as Bobrovsky allowed a big rebound of a T.J. Brodie one-timer from the top of the left circle and Backlund was there to stuff it home with 6:54 remaining in the middle stanza.

Game Notes

Cervenka's tally was his first career NHL goal ... Flames forward Mike Cammalleri missed the game with a hip flexor. He is day-to-day ... Kiprusoff missed the game with a lower body injury suffered in Tuesday's 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings ... Calgary improved to 1-2 in overtime this season, while Columbus fell to 1-2.