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Langkow, Kiprusoff help Flames edge Avalanche

Nov 21, 2008 - 6:25 AM By Dave Reed PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DENVER (Ticker) -- Daymond Langkow scored his fifth goal of the season midway through the second period and Miikka Kiprusoff made 18 saves as the Calgary Flames edged the Colorado Avalanche, 1-0, on Thursday.

Kiprusoff turned aside seven shots in the first period, five in the second and six in the third en route to his second shutout of the season and 28th career. The Finn also blanked Colorado, 3-0, on October 28.

He also was lifted by his defense in the final minute. Milan Hejduk's shot got past Kiprusoff, but the puck was prevented from crossing the goal line.

"You have to be little bit lucky," Kiprusoff said. "It was behind me. I was just laying there and somebody put it under me."

Flames coach Mike Keenan was impressed with Kiprusoff's outing.

"We had two bad changes early in the game and he had to make two great saves," Keenan said. "They came up with a great scoring chance (at the end) and he made a huge save for us."

Defenseman Mark Giordano and captain Jarome Iginla each recorded an assist for Calgary, which has won two straight games and three of four. Iginla's assist was the 400th of his career.

Thanks to Langkow's wrist shot off a rebound with 9:44 left in the second period, the Flames improved to 4-5-0 since having a six-game winning streak come to an end with 3-2 loss at Anaheim on November 2.

"Giordano made a nice move and put a real hard shot on net," Langkow said. "I just jumped on the rebound."

Peter Budaj made 32 saves for the Avalanche, who fell for the second straight time after winning three consecutive contests.

One game after recording a career-high 47 saves in a 4-1 loss to the Flames in the opener of their home-and-home series on Tuesday, he helped the Avalanche successfully kill all five of Calgary's power plays. Colorado has now extinguished 36 of its last 40 man disadvantages.

"It's disappointing, obviously," Budaj said. "We're doing a great job of penalty-killing. We started the season last in the league and we're climbing a little bit. Guys are working hard, blocking shots, but we can't put any pucks in right now. It's going to turn around."

Budaj also benefited from a little bit of luck, as Giordano, Iginla and defenseman Adrian Aucoin all rang shots off the goalpost.

Since a 6-2 loss at Chicago on November 3, Budaj has allowed 11 goals in six starts. The Avalanche won three of those contests - all without captain Joe Sakic, who was scratched for the fourth time with a back injury.

But while Budaj has been strong during that six-game span, Colorado has been unable to produce offensively, scoring just eight goals.

"We had a couple of good chances there in the second, but that's what happens when you struggle," Avalanche right wing Ian Laperriere said. "Everyone is squeezing their stick a little bit more. It was a better effort but the same result."

The Avalanche lost right wing Marek Svatos in the second period to an abdominal injury.