Flames Push Streak to Four 

D'Arcy McGrath

April 2nd, 2002

Now the get it.

For the fourth straight game the Flames leaned on an edge in special teams to find a way to amass points and keep their dim playoff hopes alive.

As will be proven the case ... too little too late.

The Flames season went up in smoke in a brutal stretch of hockey dating late November to early January. In this streak they couldn't score with the man advantage, and they couldn't keep the opposition from doing exactly the opposite.

Now ... with very little on the line but personal pride and a budding superstar's personal statistics the Flames have literally appeared to find their stride.

Will it help sell tickets for next season? Will it help set the tone for an improved season next year? Only time will tell.

Don't let me sweet talk this one, it wasn't pretty.

The Atlanta Thrashers seemed bent on keeping this games as boring as possible, and they almost suceeded.

A floundering Flames powerplay that failed to convert a 1:47 two man advantage to start the game led to an Atlanta powerplay goal on an aggression call to Craig Berube.

Berube let Calgary native, Andy Sutton, know in no uncertain terms the exact price that must be paid for hitting Jerome Iginla from behind by pummeling the defenceman, and sending him out of the game.

On the ensuing powerplay Thrasher defenceman Daniel Tjarnqvist managed a seeing eye shot from the point past a startled Roman Turek. It was Turek's first shot of the evening, nine minutes in.

Calgary bounced back in the second period when Scott Nichol scored a shorthanded, penalty shot goal by roofing a shot on the guessing Milan Hnilicka.

Calgary went up for the first time when Dean McAmmond scored his first of two second period powerplay goals to give the home side a 2-1 advantage.

McAmmond's two goals equaled then bested his career best of 19 goals set with the Oilers four year ago.

Sandwiched in-between McAmmond's goals was a highlight reel goal by Calgary's own Dany Heatley, on a brilliant one on one move that left both Bob Boughner and Roman Turek still searching for answers.

The Flames salted things away in the third period when Jarome Iginla slid an off angle shot through Hnilicka's pads to notch his 47th of the season.

The win moves the Flames to within one game of the magical .500 mark, a consolation prize to a season that will see them miss the playoffs for a sixth straight season.

Scoreboard
	Calgary Flames	4
	Atlanta Thrashers	2

Box Score

FLAMES LINES

OUR THREE STARS

1) Dean McAmmond - Swift winger continues to put up points, setting his career best in goals with two on the night, pushing his season to 20. 

2) Dany Heatley - Scores a goal that is sure to make every network's play of the night reel, adds an assist.

3) Craig Berube - No goals. No assists. But answers the call when Iginla was hit from behind in the first, then answers it again when Jeff Odgers came a calling.

SAVE OF THE GAME

With the Thrashers leading 1-0 in the first period Milan Hnilicka stoned Jamie Wright by diving to his left and making a chest save.

NOTES & STATS

With ten minutes to go I mentioned to the fella beside me that Iginla might get his 48th into an empty night. Said fella guessed that the Thrashers wouldn't pull their goalie down two. A bet was made, and then ironically Iginla was pulled from behind by Heatley on a breakaway on a vacant net with 15 seconds to play. ... Statistically the Flames dominated on the night with over 60% of the shots and hits, as well as 67% of the face off victories. Robyn Regehr led all hitters for the Flames with four, while the Thrashers were led by four different players with two, including Heatley. ... The Flames strong face off showing was led by Craig Conroy who was victorious in 80% of his 20 draws. Flames assistant coach Brian Skrudland was asked after the game about the team's face off prowess and he offered this ... "the first thing I told the guys was that it's not about winning the draw, it's about not losing it. Use your wingers, tie the other guy up, and avoid losing a draw clean". The Flames have been near the top of the league in face offs all season. ... With the win the Flames have officially moved past last season's final point total of 73, sitting with 75 in 76 games. They are now only one game below .50o with six games to play.