Flames bury Predators in six
21.04.05 23:26MST
Cammalleri nets series winner
Mike Cammalleri (pictured) scored his second of the playoffs which turned out to be the winner as the Calgary Flames beat the Nashville Predators 3-2 to close out the series in six games.
Calgary stormed out to a 3 goal lead before Nashville clawed their way back to within one. However, the Flames defense managed to hang on and send Nashville to the golf course, thus ending Nashville's first franchise appearance in the playoffs.
"This is the second year in a row we've advanced past the first round. It's encouraging, especially since we didn't start the season all that well." Said Captain Jarome Iginla who posted 2 goals and 4 points in the 6 game series.
Calgary opened the scoring with a point shot from Tom Preissing at 1:09 of the first period. It was his first goal of the post season and was assisted by Ryan Craig and Kyle Brodziak. The Flames doubled their lead shortly thereafter with Shawn Bates scoring off of a scramble out front at 1:43 of the first, from Brodziak and Johnson.
The Second period was a bit more even as both teams traded goals. Mike Cammalleri at 4:25 from Jarome Iginla made it 3-0 before Nashville finally got on the board with Fedor Tyutin's first of the playoffs from Arkhipov and Walker at 14:55.
Alex Ovechkin made the game interesting at 17:35 of the third from Zidlicky and Peltonen to make it 3-2 but that was as close as they got. It was his team leading 4th of the playoffs.
Calgary will have to wait to find out who they'll play in the next round, but as Phoenix has already upset the Sharks, all signs point to a potential Vancouver and Calgary rematch of last season. Vancouver currently leads their series against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 3 games to 2.