Trip Continues at .500 Pace

D'Arcy McGrath

March 11th, 2002

When the Flames left Calgary on this mammoth nine game road trip it was anyone's guess as to  what number of points would be required to keep pace with the rest of the pack.

So far so good.

With five games in arrears on the nine game junket the Flames have a break even record with five points. Plus their getting some help.

The Edmonton Oilers have only won two of their last seven games; the Vancouver Canucks have lost three in a row and have won only one of their last eight.

Going into Tuesday's games the Flames now only sit four points out of the western conference's 8th position, with some of the easiest touches on this road trip remaining.

In Carolina the Flames relied on the old stand bye to get them a crucial road point - Jarome Iginla.

Face Offs	Hits
Powerplay Chances	Shots on Goal

Iginla continued his seven game point streak, a streak that has seen him rack up seven goals and 15 points, by adding a goal and an assist to pace the Flames.

The game was  a see saw battle that always remained within one goal.

The Flames opened the scoring in the first period when Craig Conroy scored his 21st goal of the season with Ron Francis in the sin bin for hooking.

The Hurricanes tied the score with a back breaking goal with only 15 seconds left in the period. The marker was also a powerplay marker.

In the second period the Flames retook the lead when Iginla converted his 43rd goal of the season unassisted. The goal puts Iginla nine up on the nearest combatant, Bill Guerin, and appears to be a lock to be the first Canadian born player to claim the Maurice Richard trophy.

Like the first period this lead wasn't meant to last either. Three minutes later the Hurricanes struck again on the powerlay to even the score, this time Bates Battaglia did the honors.

The Canes outshot the Flames by a 11-5 margin in the second period.

The Flames reversed the tables by carrying the play in the third period, but it was the Hurricanes that found the go ahead goal. Jeff Daniels scored an even strength goal to forge a lead that lasted almost the entire period.

A late goal by Craig Conroy on a Flames powerplay brought the visitors even to earn a point on the night.

The come from behind late goal was poetic justice for the Flames after losing games in Washington and Boston on late goals.

The Flames move on to Florida to play the Panthers and Lightning next.

 

Scoreboard
	Calgary Flames	3
	Carolina Hurricanes	3

Box Score

FLAMES LINES

OUR THREE STARS

1 Craig Conroy - Now eight goals and 18 points clear of his career best numbers, Conroy added two on the night. 

2 Ron Francis - Ageless warrior continues to compete at a high level, scored a goal and added an assist.

3 Jarome Iginla - League's most dangerous player continued his torrid pace by adding another two points.

HIT OF THE GAME

The Flames' Petr Buzek got "lit up" when he tried to enter traffic in front of the Carolina goal only to be flattened by Brett Hedican.

SAVE OF THE GAME

Arturs Irbe stoned Jarome Iginla on a short handed chance after Craig Conroy and Iginla broke in, executing a perfect two on one.

NOTES & STATS

The Flames now have a 2-2-1-0 record through five games on this road trip. The two losses and the tie have featured decisive goals in the last two plus minutes. ... The Mike Vernon fiasco continues to unfold with reports that Vernon is set to join the team in Florida. ... Bob Boughner and Clarke Wilm were both scratched due to bumps and bruises. ... The Flames suffered one of the most lopsided statistical defeats of the season wining only 36% of the face offs and finding themselves on the wrong side of a 32-18 hit count. Jarome Iginla led all Flames with three hits while Eric Cole had an eye popping 8 for Carolina.