• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Cammalleri, Kiprusoff help Flames burn Wild

Feb 28, 2009 - 6:07 AM CALGARY, Alberta (Ticker) -- A second-period outburst helped the Calgary Flames continue their home dominance over the Minnesota Wild.

Mike Cammalleri scored two goals and Miikka Kiprusoff made 15 saves as the Flames blanked the Wild, 4-1, on Friday.

Defenseman Dion Phaneuf and Jamie Lundmark also tallied for Calgary, which extended its winning streak to four games.

"We talked about staying patient throughout the game and trying not to get frustrated," Cammalleri said. "They play a pretty steady style, it's easy to get impatient and start pressing.

"That's when you make mistakes and that's what they're hoping for. We stayed patient and in the second, we had a little burst."

Marc-Andre Bergeron netted the lone goal and All-Star Niklas Backstrom stopped 25 shots for the Wild, who began a six-game road trip by losing for the sixth straight time at Pengrowth Saddledome.

"We turned the puck over I don't know how many times," Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire said. "It was worse and worse as the game went on... We've got to bounce back tomorrow and forget this one. I know one thing, our defensemen could not play worse."

The Flames used three goals in the middle session to notch their seventh win in nine tries. They have not lost in regulation since February 7.

"The main comment I can make on that part of our game (playing defensively) is patience," Calgary coach Mike Keenan said. "We had the patience to position ourselves and strategically put ourselves in the right places and it takes patience to play against a team like Minnesota.

"If you can be as patient or more patient than them then you are going to get your opportunities because of turnovers and we did that pretty well tonight."

Cammalleri opened the scoring 17 seconds into the second period and Phaneuf doubled the lead 20 seconds later by firing a hard wrist shot from the high slot that sailed by Backstrom.

"We were being patient first period and that gave us a little bit of a boost," Keenan said. "Obviously when you got a lead, then a two goal lead, you can take advantage of it and gain some momentum, particularly when you are at home."

Lundmark gave Calgary a 3-0 bulge with 7:21 remaining in the session by deflecting blue-liner Cory Sarich's shot while stationed on the doorstep. It was his first goal since March 21, 2007.

"Whenever you get the first of the year it feels pretty good," Lundmark said. "Hopefully, they'll come a little easier after this. You feel a little better with the weight lifted off your back."

"The team is playing great, we're cutting down on the chances against, the defense is moving the puck. Everyone is playing great and that makes it easier to play well."

Cammalleri collected his 32nd goal of the campaign with 5:21 left in the third.

"It's been fun," Cammalleri said. "I've said it all year, playing with these guys has been enjoyable for me. The real exciting part is the way we're playing coming down the stretch and the chance of competing in the playoffs. That gets me real excited and I can't wait."

Bergeron spoiled Kiprusoff's shutout bid under two minutes later, wristing the puck into the vacant net for his eighth tally of the season.

Kiprusoff is 11 victories away from tying New Jersey Devils star goaltender Martin Brodeur's mark of 48 for most wins in a single season, set in 2006-07. With 21 games remaining on the Flames' schedule, the Finn remains within striking distance.

Captain Jarome Iginla registered an assist, but needs one point to tie Theoren Fleury's all-time mark of 830 for franchise honors.