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Bure'd Panthers Fall to Flames
D'Arcy
McGrath
October
18th, 2001
Probably the most remarkable aspect of
the Flames 3-1 victory over the Florida Panthers on Thursday night, was
just how unremarkable it was.
Saddledome fans, used to last year's
debacle on home ice, seemed hardly surprised that the Flames would
parlay a first period three goal lead into a relatively meek fifth
victory on the season.
Five days rest did the Flames little
harm, as the upstart club turned in yet another solid all round
performance in running their season record to 5-1-0-1.
The win gives the Flames 11 points in
seven games, and a share of first place in the Northwest Division and a
tie for second place in the Western Conference.
Even more startling? The Flames have
managed to find points in all four games on home ice this season. The
Flames managed points in only 21 of 41 home games last season, so a four
for four mark early is clearly significant.
The Flames jumped on the Panthers early,
scoring three goals in the first period, on a less than stellar former
Flames stopper, Trevor Kidd.
Two of the three goals were scored on the
powerplay, with the even strength goal coming just seconds after Olie
Jokinen returned to the ice.
The Flames opened the scoring when Jarome
Iginla found a rebound in front of Kidd, and hoisted the puck up and
over the lanky fallen goaltender.
Just over two minutes later Iginla scored
his second of the night on the powerplay, converting a heads up pass
from Craig Conroy over Kidd's shoulder. The goal was Iginla's third of
the season.
With less than a minute left in the first
period, Jukka Hentunen scored his first NHL goal on a play that will
likely be described much differently by the time the rookie Fin tells
his grandchildren.
Robyn Regehr wristed a shot from the
point that was tipped by Hentunen towards the Florida goal. Jeff Norton
had the puck glance off his skate and slide into the empty net past a
diving Trevor Kidd.
With a solid Roman Turek in goal the
outcome was pretty much determined after twenty minutes.
The Panthers burst Turek's attempt for a
third shut out on the season with a fluke goal midway through the third
period.
Ivan Novoseltsev took a Dan Boyle pass
and fired a harmless shot wide of the Flames goal. The puck glanced off
of Derek Morris' skate and slid past a helpless Roman Turek. The
goaltender still hasn't seen the puck.
The Panthers tried to press to narrow the
margin but were held at bay, as the Flames kept things simple in
preserving the win.
The win was the Flames third on home ice,
a feat they didn't accomplish until December 9th last season. The Flames
home record moves to 3-0-0-1 on the season.
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Calgary Flames 3 Florida Panthers 1 
