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Iginla, Bertuzzi help Flames to first win

Oct 15, 2008 - 5:31 AM CALGARY, Alberta (Ticker) -- The Calgary Flames leaned on their captain, and he led them into the win column.

Jarome Iginla scored a goal and set up Todd Bertuzzi's second tally of the game as the Flames picked up their first win of the season, a 5-4 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday.

Dustin Boyd and Craig Conroy also scored for the Flames, who lost five of eight meetings with the Avalanche last season. Defenseman Dion Phaneuf, Michael Cammalleri and Daymond Langkow added two assists apiece.

"It was a gritty game, but we were hungry and never gave up," Iginla said.

Blue-liner John-Michael Liles, Ben Guite, Cody McLeod and Ryan Smyth tallied for Colorado (0-3-0), which is off to its worst start since 1998-99. Paul Stastny had a pair of assists for the Avalanche, who managed just five shots in the second period.

"We weren't ready early, and they capitalized on our mistakes. Even though we were able to get it close, that's the way it goes," Avalanche defenseman Adam Foote said. "We can't press the panic button and get discouraged. We've played some good teams."

The Flames overcame some shaky goaltending from former Vezina Trophy winner Miikka Kiprusoff thanks to an improved power-play unit and their captain. Calgary had been 0-for-13 with the man advantage before netting two power-play goals during a three-goal first period.

"The difference, I think, was our power play was clicking," Boyd said. "We haven't had a power play in the previous games. When you get goals with the man advantage, it adds to your confidence."

"I think (the power-play units) just felt a little bit more comfortable," Flames coach Mike Keenan said. "We talked about it the last couple of days, Cammalleri playing the point. Mike might have been an injection of confidence that they needed."

Still, the first-period three goals were not enough, as Smyth - who also had an assist - capped a comeback when he tied it at 3-3 with 11 minutes left in the second.

But Iginla, who had been held without a point in the first two games, took over in crunch time. His first goal of the season could not have come at a better time, as he snapped the tie by unleashing a wrist shot from the left faceoff dot that beat goaltender Peter Budaj to the glove side at 7:23 of the third.

"Right before I scored, I thought we were moving it around a lot better," Iginla said. "I was just trying to go in and get a shot, Bert was right in front. I guess it went by him, and I was happy to see it go in."

Shortly thereafter, Iginla set up what proved to be the decisive goal when he broke free down the right wing and fired a slap shot from the right circle. The puck deflected off Budaj and right to Bertuzzi, who wristed it into the left side of the net with nine minutes left.

Bertuzzi's goal proved crucial as Guite scored just 18 seconds later on a fluke play. Guite's shot from the right circle knuckled, bouncing off the ice and over the right shoulder of Kiprusoff to draw Colorado within 5-4.

Keenan said it may have been the strangest goal he has ever seen.

"It spiked itself on the ice somehow and rebounded almost four feet in the air and hit the post and went in," he said. "It was a completely fluke goal that should be highlighted as a fluke goal."

The Avalanche pulled Budaj late for an extra attacker, but to no avail.

Kiprusoff made 25 saves, while Budaj allowed five goals on 35 shots.

Colorado's slow start is weighing on coach Tony Granato.

"It's disappointing to lose, especially when you're playing a division rival that you know is going to get all these points - premium points," Granato said. "You have a chance where you can get points and you let them slip away, sure it hurts. It's been a tough few games for us where we have been in position (to win) probably all three games."