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Sykora's two goals lift Oilers over Flames

Nov 22, 2006 - 4:49 AM EDMONTON, Alberta (Ticker) -- It had to be a sweet victory for Petr Sykora and the Edmonton Oilers, who extended their own winning streak and ended their bitter rival's at the same time.

Sykora scored two goals, including the game-winner with 6:03 remaining, to give the Oilers a 2-1 triumph over the Calgary Flames.

Edmonton pushed its winning streak to four games and snapped provincial rival Calgary's run at six straight.

"I thought the whole game was pretty much sawed down the middle until they got the big goal," said Calgary's Jarome Iginla, who had his seven-game point streak ended. "In a close game, they found a way to score that big goal and we didn't."

Sykora netted the decisive goal when Ales Hemsky streaked down the right side and took a shot that was saved by Calgary goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff. But Kiprusoff allowed a bad rebound, which Sykora swooped in and backhanded into the net for his 11th tally of the season.

"To get the winning goal, it feels very good," Sykora said. "We played one of the best teams so far this season, and they're very structured and well-coached.

"To be honest I didn't even see Hemsky's shot, and I didn't see the rebound. I was just going to the net and I just tried to not shoot right away. I tried to push the puck to the side a little to make the goalie move and I shot and it went in."

The big rebound was a rare gaffe for Kiprusoff, who entered with the NHL's third-best save percentage.

"Yeah it was one that I'd like to have back obviously," Kiprusoff said. "I don't know, I thought I had the angle, but he obviously placed it well." The Flames originally took a 1-0 lead at 9:46 of the first period when Kristian Huselius banged in a rebound from close range during a scramble in front of goaltender Dwayne Roloson.

Edmonton tied the game with 31 seconds remaining in the first period on the power play when Sykora beat Kiprusoff from the slot with Ryan Smyth working as a screen.

Roloson finished with 23 saves for the Oilers, who were 1-for-3 on the power play.

"The way the game was going between two rivals, the next goal was probably going to win," Roloson said of the third period. "You just want to give the guys a chance to win. My job is to stop pucks."

Kiprusoff recorded 23 stops for the Flames, who were 0-for-6 with the extra skater.

"It was definitely not the outcome we wanted," Calgary defenseman Dion Phaneuf said. "We weren't sharp enough and gave up too many shots. We played a good team and knew we had to play a full 60 minutes. And when you don't play a full 60 minutes, you aren't going to get points in this league."