Final
Iginla, Flames open season against Canucks
Oct 9, 2008 - 10:08 AM Calgary (0-0-0) at Vancouver (0-0-0), 10:30 pm EDTVANCOUVER, British Columbia (Ticker) -- As long as Jarome Iginla continues to produce, it will be difficult for Western Conference opponents to extinguish the Calgary Flames.
Iginla and the Flames begin their journey toward a fifth consecutive playoff appearance when they open the regular season on the road against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.
Coming off the most decorated season of his career, Iginla looks to maintain the level of excellence that put him within two points of his first 100-point effort. The four-time All-Star notched 50 goals and 48 assists in 82 games, carrying the Flames to the playoffs before they were ousted in the conference quarterfinals for the third straight campaign.
Iginla had 32 more points than his closest teammate. Only Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin, San Jose's Joe Thornton and Washington's Alex Ovechkin had a larger differential.
Perhaps Todd Bertuzzi's arrival via free agency will help on the offensive end. The disgruntled 33-year-old is with his fourth team since his on-ice attack of Colorado's Steve Moore in 2003-04 and will look to return to the form that saw him notch four consecutive 60-point seasons with Vancouver.
Rising star Dion Phaneuf should continue to provide a spark offensively while anchoring a blue line that allowed 2.73 goals per game - tied for 15th in the league. The 23-year-old registered 17 goals, 43 assists and 182 penalty minutes last season en route to being a finalist for the Norris Trophy.
Goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff returns after going 39-26-10 with a 2.69 goals-against average in 76 games.
Vancouver begins the season with many looming questions in regard to its identity. Former captain Markus Naslund departed for the New York Rangers and center Brendan Morrison signed with the Anaheim Ducks in the offseason, leaving goaltender - and newly appointed captain - Roberto Luongo as the backbone of the team.
The 29-year-old Luongo became the 12th captain in team history and the first goalie to receive the honor since Bill Durnan held the title for the Montreal Canadiens in 1947-48. Due to league policy, however, he will not wear the "C" on his jersey.
Luongo went 35-29-9 with a 2.38 GAA last season, but the Canucks missed the playoffs for the second time in three campaigns. Prior to that, they qualified for four consecutive trips to the playoffs.
Vancouver is 20-14-3 in its season openers, while Calgary is 11-14-10.
- NHL
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
CALGARY 0 0 0 0
VANCOUVER 1 2 3 6 FINAL
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: VAN - HENRIK SEDIN 1 (DANIEL SEDIN, RYAN KESLER) 16:25
2ND PRD: VAN - STEVE BERNIER 1 (HENRIK SEDIN, DANIEL SEDIN) 0:23
VAN - ALEXANDRE BURROWS 1 (RYAN KESLER) 1:57
3RD PRD: VAN - ALEXANDRE BURROWS 2 (RYAN JOHNSON) 2:
Oct 10 1:21 AM - NHL
CALGARY 0
VANCOUVER 6
3RD PRD: VAN - (PP) RICK RYPIEN 1 (MATTIAS OHLUND) 14:42
Flames 0, Canucks 6 3rd - 5:18Oct 10 1:14 AM - NHL
CALGARY 0
VANCOUVER 5
3RD PRD: VAN - MATTIAS OHLUND 1 (TAYLOR PYATT, DANIEL SEDIN) 10:27
Flames 0, Canucks 5 3rd - 9:33Oct 10 1:06 AM - NHL
CALGARY 0
VANCOUVER 4
3RD PRD: VAN - ALEXANDRE BURROWS 2 (RYAN JOHNSON) 2:48
Flames 0, Canucks 4 3rd - 17:12Oct 10 12:52 AM - NHL
END OF THE 2ND 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
CALGARY 0 0 0
VANCOUVER 1 2 3 END OF THE 2ND
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: VAN - HENRIK SEDIN 1 (DANIEL SEDIN, RYAN KESLER) 16:25
2ND PRD: VAN - STEVE BERNIER 1 (HENRIK SEDIN, DANIEL SEDIN) 0:23
VAN - ALEXANDRE BURROWS 1 (RYAN KESLER) 1:57
SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TO
Oct 10 12:28 AM - NHL
CALGARY 0
VANCOUVER 3
2ND PRD: VAN - ALEXANDRE BURROWS 1 (RYAN KESLER) 1:57
Flames 0, Canucks 3 2nd - 18:03Oct 9 11:53 PM - NHL
CALGARY 0
VANCOUVER 2
2ND PRD: VAN - STEVE BERNIER 1 (HENRIK SEDIN, DANIEL SEDIN) 0:23
Flames 0, Canucks 2 2nd - 19:37Oct 9 11:51 PM - NHL
END OF THE 1ST 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
CALGARY 0 0
VANCOUVER 1 1 END OF THE 1ST
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: VAN - HENRIK SEDIN 1 (DANIEL SEDIN, RYAN KESLER) 16:25
SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
CGY 9 9
VAN 5 5
GOALIES: CGY - MIIKKA KIPRUSOFF
V
Oct 9 11:32 PM - NHL
CALGARY 0
VANCOUVER 1
1ST PRD: VAN - HENRIK SEDIN 1 (DANIEL SEDIN, RYAN KESLER) 16:25
Flames 0, Canucks 1 1st - 3:35Oct 9 11:27 PM
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