Cammalleri and Giguere hit milestones in win
05.04.06 21:58MST
Flames beat Coyotes 5-4
The Calgary Flames faced the Phoenix Coyotes tonight and came home with a 5-4 win coupled with notable milestones for two of their players. Starter J-S Giguere got his 250th career win of his career and Mike Cammalleri (pictured) netted his 100th goal and 200th point.
"It was a good team win, and getting some milestones for the home crowd was a nice touch too." Said Coach Dave Fyvie of the team's efforts. "We're getting close to the playoffs and it's important to play tight and as a team. I think we did that tonight."
This was also the fifth straight game Cammalleri has registered a goal, as the young winger has caught a bit of lightning down the stretch.
For J-S Giguere, he now leads all Flames goaltenders in wins with 249 - one more than Mike Vernon. His first career win was with the Hartford Whalers in 1996/97.
The game was a back-and-forth affair. Phoenix veteran Keith Tkachuk started the scoring early at 00:48 into the game from Vermette and Koltsov. Langkow answered back with his first as a Flame at 4:28 from Oduya and Demitra. The Coyotes rattled off two quick powerplay goals. One at 17:02 from Harold set up from Briere, and the second at 18:39 from Kirill Koltsov from Briere again, and Vermette. Calgary answered back before the end of the first with a goal from Demitra at 19:13 from Boyle.
The second period was more of the same. Calgary tied it up at 4:26 from rookie Milan Michalek from Iginla and Cammalleri before Phoenix again took the lead. Shane Doan did the honours at 10:00 from Briere and Pominville. But the Flames tied it again. Mike Cammalleri, with his 100th goal of his short career, and 39th of his breakout season, got on the board at 17:18 from line-mates Iginla and Richards.
The third period tightened up as both teams smelled 2 critical April points but it was a hard-angled shot from Pavel Demitra that sealed it for the Flames. At 13:18 of the third, from Lydman and Langkow, for Demitra's 36th of the season.
Overall, Phoenix outshot the Flames 31-28 and the Coyotes went 2-6 on the powerplay to Calgary's 1-6.
Phoenix remains tied for the lead in the Pacific Division with the San Jose Sharks, but still sit 3rd in the Conference, with San Jose clinging to 8th making the points critical at this stage of the season. Calgary continues their strangle-hold on the Northwest Division as they lead the 5th place Canucks by 8 points with 6 games to go.
Mike Cammalleri will look to continue his goal streak as the Flames finish off their home-stand against the Wild on 7th of April. Phoenix heads home to face the Stars on 8th of April.