• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Iginla's overtime goal helps Flames scorch Sharks

Feb 13, 2008 - 7:33 AM SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) -- All-Star Jarome Iginla just continues to give the San Jose Sharks a reason to dislike him.

Iginla the game-winning goal in overtime and Miikka Kiprusoff made 40 saves as the Calgary Flames overcame being decisively outshot to post a 4-3 victory over the Sharks on Tuesday night.

All-Star defenseman Dion Phaneuf tied the game in the final minute of regulation and set up the game-winner for the Flames, who were outshot by a 43-18 margin.

"Your best players have to come up with the big plays," Calgary coach Mike Keenan said of Iginla. "He did, but we expect it of him."

Iginla netted his 35th goal of the season and seventh game-winner with just 25 seconds remaining in the extra session. With the Sharks' defense focused on Phaneuf driving to the net, the 22-year-old blue-liner delivered a pass to Iginla in the right faceoff circle.

The captain then fired a one-timer past All-Star goaltender Evgeni Nabokov to give Calgary the win. It was the second time this season Iginla has scored in overtime against San Jose.

Iginla credited the victory to Kiprusoff, however.

"I might have gotten a 'star of the game,' but Kipper was outstanding the entire game," he said. "He was the No. 1 reason we got that win tonight."

Iginla's goal was made possible by Phaneuf's tally with 50 seconds left in the third period. After keeping the puck in the offensive zone during a power play, Phaneuf fired a wrist shot that beat Nabokov between the pads.

"We found an opportunity late on the power play after having to kill off a number of penalties," Keenan said.

San Jose coach Ron Wilson was not at all pleased with his team's play while trying to protect a one-goal lead.

"The last three minutes of the game, we backed off and gave them an opportunity to get back in it," he said. "Then in a casual moment, we flipped the puck over the glass and didn't get the job done. It erased a good effort."

Calgary took a 2-1 edge at 2:01 of the second period after a series of unusual events. The play started when San Jose center Jeremy Roenick committed a turnover after losing his balance and crashing to the ice behind the net.

Matthew Lombardi picked up the loose puck and made a centering pass to former Shark Mark Smith, whose initial shot hit the goalpost. Smith then was knocked down and slid toward the goal, knocking the puck across the line with his body just before dislodging the net from its moorings.

A lengthy video review confirmed the goal.

"My goal will go on the highlight reel," joked Smith, who scored his first of the campaign. "I think I scored with my butt."

The Sharks knotted the game at 2-2 with 33 seconds left in the second, when Milan Michalek toe-dragged the puck through the crease and backhanded it past Kiprusoff's left skate.

San Jose then took a 3-2 advantage at 8:33 of the third as Mike Grier's one-timer from the slot was deflected mid-flight by Patrick Rissmiller below Kiprusoff's glove.

Calgary opened the scoring just 4:20 into the contest. Former San Jose captain Owen Nolan settled a bouncing pass from Kristian Huselius at the blue line to maintain the zone and unleashed a slap shot that Daymond Langkow redirected over Nabokov's right shoulder from the slot.

Marcel Goc tied the game with 8:20 left in the opening period, when he gained the offensive zone and launched a wrist shot on the move from behind the left circle, beating Kiprusoff over the left shoulder.

Joe Thornton was held pointless and will have to wait at least one more game to record his 500th career assist. The All-Star center currently has 499.

Nabokov made 14 saves for San Jose.

Calgary was desperate for points as it started a string of eight of 10 games on the road. The club had lost three of its previous four road contests.

"It's so tight, the shift tonight moved us up two more spots," Keenan said. "It dropped a couple of teams behind us. Every night is the biggest game of the year."