Edmonton, AB (Sports Network) - Kristian Huselius scored two goals to lift the
Calgary Flames over the Edmonton Oilers, 4-1, in the battle of Alberta at
Rexall Place.
Daymond Langkow tallied a goal and an assist while Miikka Kiprusoff made 25
saves for Calgary, which has won three straight contests. Andrew Ference added
a goal for the Flames, who sit atop the Northwest Division with 92 points,
four better than second-place Colorado.
"This was a huge game for both teams, you could feel it in the building, and
that made it a fun game to play," Kiprusoff said. "The win against Colorado
wouldn't mean anything if we hadn't won tonight. It feels good, and we know
every game is going to be like this one for the rest of the season."
Shawn Horcoff scored the Oilers' lone goal and Dwayne Roloson stopped 22 shots
for Edmonton, which has lost two of its last three games. Edmonton remained in
eighth place in the Western Conference, three points ahead of San Jose and Los
Angeles, which are tied for ninth place.
"We played suicidal hockey," Edmonton head coach Craig MacTavish said. "A
week's worth of ill-advised passes in two periods, and their forecheck looks
like they've got eight guys on the ice."
Calgary drew first blood midway through the opening frame after Langkow
converted a two-on-none rush with a tap-in glove side for a 1-0 lead. Jarome
Iginla picked up a turnover in the Oilers' zone and passed it across the slot
to Langkow.
The Flames extended their lead 1:28 into the middle frame as Huselius gathered
a rebound and his shot beat Roloson glove side for a 2-0 advantage.
Calgary made it 3-0 while on the power play less than three minutes later when
Huselius' snap shot from the right circle caromed off Roloson's head and into
the net.
Edmonton got one back at the 4:55 mark of the second period as Horcoff crashed
the net, deflected the puck off Roman Hamrlik's stick and the rebound caromed
off of Horcoff's body past Kiprusoff to make it 3-1.
Edmonton seemingly got within a goal 2:20 into the final frame but Raffi
Torres's tally was waived off after he was called for high-sticking. Just 34
seconds later, Calgary upped its lead while on the power play after Ference
beat Roloson glove side from the high slot for the game's final margin.
