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Flames burn Predators behind Kiprusoff, Iginla

Oct 31, 2007 - 6:09 AM By Mike Blanchard PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CALGARY, Alberta (Ticker) - If you asked the Nashville Predators whether they thought Calgary Flames goaltender MiiKka Kiprusoff was overpaid, the answer would probably be no.

Kiprusoff made 39 saves and Jarome Iginla scored a pair of goals to lead Calgary to a 5-1 victory over Nashville on Tuesday at the Pengrowth Saddledome.

Kiprusoff stopped all 24 shots faced through two periods and showed why the Flames paid $35 million to sign the former Vezina Trophy winner to a six-year contract extension on Monday.

Tested early and often, Kiprusoff stopped Predators centre David Legwand on partial breakaways at point-blank range twice in the first 10 minutes. Legwand couldn't solve the Flames netminder on another break early in the second period.

"I was able to see most of the shots out there," Kiprusoff said. "That's huge for me."

Iginla opened the scoring for the Flames with a power-play goal 3:59 into the first period. Parked at the top of the crease, Iginla banged home Daymond Langow's centering pass from behind the net.

Iginla helped put the Flames ahead 2-0 just 100 seconds into the second period. On a two-on-one break, Iginla flipped a saucer pass to Matthew Lombardi who was able to chip the puck past Nashville goaltender Chris Mason.

"I thought we were skating well tonight," Iginla said. "Lately we've been a lot quicker in the neutral zone."

Three and a half minutes later the Flames took advantage of a Nashville penalty. Kristian Huselius added a power-play goal to extend the Flames lead to 3-0.

Nashville found a way to beat Kiprusoff 2:30 into the third period. With a man advantage, Alexander Radulov wired a shot from the left faceoff circle and found the far corner of the net.

"He's been the best goalie over the past few seasons," Iginla said. "People say top three, but we believe he's the best."

Predators coach Barry Trotz thought there was an opportunity to catch the Flames.

"In a lot of areas we were good," Trotz said. "In crucial areas at crucial times we weren't as good as we needed to be."

However, the Predators continue to struggle on the road, and have not won in five games away from Sommet Centre.

"We're just a totally different team on the road," Mason said. "It's harder to win on the road and it seems right now we're not willing to get into the hard areas."

Eric Nystrom scored his first career goal and Iginla tallied with 54 seconds to play to cap the scoring.