Flames Topple NHL Giant

D'Arcy McGrath

March 7th, 2002

What's the big deal with long road trips?

A win in New York ... close loss in Washington, and a surprising, yet extremely important win Philadelphia giving the team an opportunity to not only hold ground in the intense Western race, but possibly gain some.

Though they'll need some help, as the rest of the competition continues to rack up points as well.

The Flames used a season long recipe for success in this one; out of this world goaltending from Roman Turek - he stopped 17 shots in the third period alone - and offensive production from Jarome Iginla, as the league's leading scorer added another goal and assist to his impressive tally.

The win moves the Flames back to two games over .500 and to within three points of the 8th place Phoenix Coyotes (who were putting the boots to Vancouver at press time) and the idle Edmonton Oilers. They now sit only one point back of their first leap frog victim, the Vancouver Canucks.

Face Offs	Hits
Powerplay Chances	Shots on Goal

The Flyers opened the scoring in the first period when Jiri Dopita jumped on a big fat rebound, fanned once, and then flipped the puck past a reaching Roman Turek, and flailing Craig Berube.

The Flames jumped right back however, when Jamie Wright spotted a streaking Igor Kravchuk coming in from the point, and deftly fed him the puck for Kravchuk's 4th goal of the season.

In the second period the Flyers went up for the last time in the game when fourth liners Paul Ranheim, a former Flame, and Todd Fedoruk combined for a goal that was more due to sloppy defensive play than offensive artistry. Ranheim took the puck inside on Petr Buzek, who managed to tie his man up and halt the rush. The trailing Fedoruk wasn't covered however, firing a wrist shot past a screened Turek.

Then the Flames took over.

Using a strong cycle game and a relentless forecheck the Flames managed to hem the Flyers in for much of the remainder of the second period. The work paid off when Ron Petrovicky converted a Steve Begin rebound to tie the score at two.

Less than four minutes later the Flames went ahead to stay when ex-Flyer, Dean McAmmond, picked up a chunky slot rebound and fired a backhand past the out reaching mitt of Denis Boucher.

The Flyers controlled much of the third period, out shooting the Flames by a 17-11 margin, but failed to get the puck past a solid Turek.

Jarome Iginla salted things away with his 41st goal of the season into the empty net.

The Flames move on to Boston for a game on Saturday night.

Scoreboard
	Calgary Flames	4
	Philadelphia Flyers	2

Box Score

FLAMES LINES

OUR THREE STARS

1) Roman Turek - Once again Turek has proven the difference between adequate and stellar goaltending. He didn't win this one on his own, but he played a huge role. 

2) Ron Petrovicky - Through several impact body checks and notched the game at two, turning the game on a dime. 

3) Jarome Iginla - Another solid game down low, assist early, empty net goal late

HIT OF THE GAME

Ron Petrovicky got in quick on the forecheck midway through the second period and leveled Eric Desjardins behind the Philly goal.

SAVE OF THE GAME

Roman Turek ... when you make 17 stops in a third period on the road ... they're all big.

NOTES & STATS

Rob Niedermayer missed the game with the flue, ending his two game comeback, at least for a night. ... The Flames dressed seven defencemen and 11 forwards, with Robyn Regehr inserted back in with Niedermayer's departure. ... The Flames may no longer have to deal with the tough decision of which defenceman to sit down with Denis Gauthier crumpling in a heap with less than two minutes to play. The usually passive Mark Recchi left his feet to elbow Gauthier in the chin taking the big defenceman down. He was helped off the ice. ... The Flames were out shot 35-32 on the night, which included a 17-11 margin in the third. ... The Flyers also out hit the visitors by a 29-21 margin with Donald Brashear leading the way with eight hits on his own. ... The Flames were slightly edged in the face off circle by a 52 to 48% count. Clarke Wilm and Marc Savard had tough nights in the dot suffering averages in the thirties.