Roman Turek did his part.

The Flames number one keeper, playing just his second game after missing three contests with a tweaked knee, may have been the only Flame on the ice that did their part.

The script was set, ...

Talented hockey team out for revenge, having dropped both of their contents to a team that had their former goaltender and third line center as key ingredients.

A tired Flames team playing their second game in two nights after winning in Dallas the night before.

And of course a good helping of off ice distraction with the team clearly jubilant after leading scorer, Jarome Iginla, was added to the high octane Canadian squad for the 2002 Olympics.

This one was never really close.

The Flames failed to even muster shot until the first period was approaching the half way mark.

By midway through the hockey game the score was still tied at zero, with the heroic Turek, holding off a the Blues despite his team getting out shot by a margin of 17-4.

The man could only come up "Large" for so long.

Doug Weight (team USA) broke the shut out and sent the Blues on their way when he fed a soft pass to Chris Pronger (team Canada) who wired one beyond Turek (team Czeck).

In the third period the Blues put it away, launching another 12 shots in Turek's direction, and getting goals from Keith Tkachuk (2) and Dallas Drake.

Tkachuk's second goal was also on the powerplay.

The loss moves the Flames pre-Christmas four game road trip to one win and one loss. The road gauntlet is actually a six game trip, but the team will return home for the Christmas break. The Flames play in Phoenix on Wednesday night before traveling to Denver to play the Avalanche on Friday. After the Christmas break the Flames will play back to back games in Edmonton and Vancouver.

The loss moves the Flames to 3-4-2 in the tough month of December, which isn't a huge disappointment given the level of opponents. The victories however, have come against top opponents like Detroit and Dallas while losses have come against cellar dwelling clubs like Tampa and Anaheim.

Box Score

FLAMES LINES

SAVE OF THE GAME

Hard to pick a best save in this barrage. Turek was on top of his game throughout the first and second periods. He was the Flame's game story.

FIGHT OF THE GAME

Jamie Allison let the frustration get to him and found himself in a spirited bout with Reed Low late in the third period. Both combatants got in some good licks, but the decision would definitely go to the Blues forward. 

NOTES & STATS

As has been the case all season, the Flames tend to come up empty on the scoreboard if they don't find an edge with their special teams. The Blues were two for five on the powerplay, while the Flames came up empty on five chances of their own. The failed powerplay was key in this one however, as the Flames had their chances early, and success could have altered the complexion of the game. ... The Flames nine shots was one better than their all time low of 8 set against Detroit in 1995. ... Toni Lydman led all Flame skaters with 25:00 on the night. Only Al MacInnis had more ice time in the game with 27:58. ... The Flames got smoked in the face off circle for the second time in two nights, managing to win only 41% of the draws. Craig Conroy bounced back with 60% on his own.