National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Calgary 4, Phoenix 1
When: 9:00 PM ET, Thursday, March 15, 2012
Where: Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta
Referees: Stephen Walkom, Ian Walsh
Linesmen: Brian Mach, Brad Lazarowich
Attendance: 19289

FLAMES 4, COYOTES 1: Rookie Sven Baertschi scored less than 20 seconds into the game and captain Jarome Iginla extended a pair of streaks with a goal as Calgary topped visiting Phoenix for its fifth consecutive victory.

Matt Stajan and Alex Tanguay also tallied while Miikka Kiprusoff made 27 saves for the Flames, who improved to 5-0-1 in their last six games overall and 4-0-1 in their last five at home.

With the triumph, the Flames climbed within one point of Colorado for eighth place in the Western Conference.

Calgary took the lead just 17 seconds into the contest as Baertschi intercepted Coyotes All-Star defenseman Keith Yandle's cross-slot pass and beat Mike Smith with a backhander from the doorstep. Playing in just his fourth NHL contest, the 19-year-old has scored in three straight.

Iginla doubled the advantage less than 5 1/2 minutes into the second with a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle. The tally extended Iginla's goal-scoring streak to six games and his points streak to eight contests.

Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson got Phoenix on the board with 2:23 remaining in the period, stretching his goal-scoring run to three games. But Stajan scored his sixth of the season and third in four contests 33 seconds later and Tanguay converted a return pass from Curtis Glencross while shorthanded with five minutes to go in the third to secure the victory.

Smith stopped 15 shots for the Coyotes, who have lost seven of nine. Phoenix remained three points behind sixth-place Chicago in the West.

GAME NOTEBOOK
: Iginla's six-game goal-scoring streak is the third of his career. ... Stajan's tally extended his points streak to five contests. ... Tanguay has registered at least one point in seven of his last eight matches. ... The Coyotes have dropped 10 of their last 15 road games. ... Calgary defeated Phoenix for just the second time in eight meetings.
Top Game Performances
 
Phoenix   Calgary
Oliver Ekman-Larsson 1 Points Sven Baertschi 1
Oliver Ekman-Larsson 1 Goals Sven Baertschi 1
Rostislav Klesla 1 Assists Mark Giordano 1
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals Alex Tanguay 1
Mike Smith .789 Save Percentage Miikka Kiprusoff .964
Mike Smith 15 Saves Miikka Kiprusoff 27
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Phoenix 28 1 0-3 2-2 9 28
Calgary 19 4 0-2 3-3 11 31
Upcoming Games
  • Calgary will play their next game on the road against Edmonton. The Flames have a W/L % of .441 after a win and .514 after a loss.
  • Phoenix will play their next game on the road against Edmonton. The Coyotes have a W/L % of .444 after a win and .528 after a loss.