• Recap
• Bleachers

Luongo, Kesler carry Canucks past Flames

Feb 18, 2009 - 6:34 AM CALGARY, Alberta (Ticker) -- All-Star Roberto Luongo made a pair of saves in the shootout and Todd Bertuzzi's attempt hit the right goalpost as the Vancouver Canucks rallied to a 4-3 triumph over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday in a battle of Northwest Division rivals.

Ryan Kesler netted both a power-play and shorthanded goal and defenseman Kevin Bieksa tallied with 51 seconds remaining in the third period to tie the game for Vancouver, which improved to 6-1-0 in February.

Luongo, who turned aside 38 shots in regulation and overtime, denied Mike Cammalleri and captain Jarome Iginla before Bertuzzi's attempt hit iron.

In the first round, Pavol Demitra's wrist shot sailed between Miikka Kiprusoff's pads for the lone tally of the bonus format. Luongo preserved the win from there.

"It was unbelievable, back and forth both sides," Luongo said. "I enjoyed playing in the game, it was exciting and fun. It was back and forth and we (Kiprusoff) we're making good saves. It was just an exciting game to be a part of."

"Roberto kept us in and then in the third for whatever reason we found our game, started playing and outplayed them," Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault said. "I thought we deserved to get the tie - and then finally won it in the shootout."

Iginla recorded a goal and an assist to move into second place among the franchise's all-time point leaders with 823. The All-Star is seven points shy of matching Theoren Fleury's mark.

"It's something I wasn't really thinking much about lately, I'm just trying to get going and help out," Iginla said.

"At the same time when I take a step back, I've definitely been blessed with my career to play 12 seasons and play them here. It's been very enjoyable, it keeps getting more fun as we get better as a team."

Rene Bourque scored and set up a goal, Daymond Langkow also tallied and Craig Conroy notched a pair of assists for Calgary, which is 3-0-2 in its last five games.

"It's tough because the division games you want. Those are two big points," said Kiprusoff, who finished with 40 saves.

"I'm not happy about (the result), but what can you do? You have to look for the next one."

With the Flames nursing a 3-2 lead, Bieksa's wrist shot beat a thoroughly screened Kiprusoff for his ninth goal of the season. Whether the shot deflected off a teammate, well, Bieksa wasn't interested.

"I don't care, I don't know and I don't wish to know," Bieksa said. "All I care is that it went in. If it hit a couple of guys, who cares, right?"

"It's hard to say, I didn't really see where it went," Kiprusoff said.

After Iginla netted his 21st goal midway through the first period, Kesler leveled the contest with a shorthanded tally with 16 seconds remaining.

Kesler then gave Vancouver a 2-1 lead after batting the puck out of the air and past Kiprusoff with 2:55 remaining in the second, but Langkow knotted the contest 64 seconds later.

Bourque had given Calgary a 3-2 advantage at the 6:52 mark in the third period after his wrist shot slipped between the pads of Luongo for his career-high 20th goal of the campaign.

"Yeah, it was a broken play and (Iginla) got a loose puck to me," Bourque said. "I just tried to go five-hole and got lucky."

Luongo, however, would get his revenge with the victory.

"It felt really nice especially after I let in the third one, which I would like to have back," Luongo said. "I was a little upset with myself to waste a good performance giving up a goal like that. The guys battled back and found a way to win."