Jason Arnott scored two goals as the Nashville Predators continued their recent domination of the Calgary Flames with a 3-2 victory on Saturday night.
Arnott's second goal gave Nashville a 3-1 lead. Miikka Kiprusoff, who had been spectacular all night in goal for the Flames, had no chance when Shea Weber's shot from the blue-line caromed off Arnott's stick, changed directions, and went into the top corner of the net.
Predators forward J. P. Dumont, left, looks for a rebound as Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff watches the puck during the first period of Saturday's game in Calgary.
(Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)
Calgary drew back within one for the second time in the period on Jarome Iginla's second goal of the game with 3:43 left. However, Tomas Vokoun came up with some big saves in a hectic sequence in the final seconds.
"We weren't good enough early," Iginla said. "We've been a good third period team this season, but we know we have to find a way to be better early. We need to be tied or better going into the third instead of being down."
Vokoun finished with 25 saves to improve to 10-3-3 lifetime against the Flames.
"It was a battle of world-class goaltenders tonight with Kiprusoff versus Vokoun and I think Vouk knew it, and he wanted to make sure he was up for the challenge," said Nashville's Steve Sullivan.
Nashville has won the past five meetings between the teams and has lost just once to the Flames in its past 11 games.
J. P. Dumont also scored for Nashville, which started a five-game road trip with its fourth straight win away from home.
Nashville back in tune
Since opening the season with three losses, the Predators have picked up points in their last seven games (6-0-1) and are tied with the Detroit Red Wings for first place in the Central division.
"We started this season not the way we wanted, but we're improving every game," said Arnott, whose 834 career games makes him the Predators' most experienced player. "We're a young team, we're still learning, and good things will happen for us down the road if we continue playing hard."
After playing just once in the past eight days, Calgary (3-5-1) began a busy stretch of five games in eight days.
Matthew Lombardi had an assist to extend his points streak to six games (three goals, five assists).
Arnott made it 2-0 with a power-play goal after the Flames had killed off two penalties earlier in the period.
Early in the third period, with the Flames on a power play, Steve Sullivan stole the puck at the Nashville blue line and took off on a clean breakaway only to be thwarted by Kiprusoff.
The Flames headed back up the ice, where Kristian Huselius threaded a pass to Iginla at the side of the net and the Flames captain tucked the puck inside the post.
There were just 13 seconds left in the first period when Dumont came up with a loose puck and snapped a shot past Kiprusoff.
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