Rate it!

0 votes

The Calgary Flames gained ground on Western Conference-leading Detroit after a thrilling 6-5 shootout gave them an away victory over the Red Wings.

Olli Jokinen had two goals in regulation and scored in the shootout to give the Flames a rare win in Detroit and help them snap a three-game losing streak.

Michael Cammalleri also added a shootout goal as Calgary flourished in the final period to overcome a three-goal deficit and drop one of the top teams in the NHL.

"In the third period we made plays," said Flames wing Jarome Iginla.

"We haven't done that much lately, but we got back to it in the third period tonight. We've got to do that more."

Netminder Miika Kiprusoff had 40 saves for Calgary (40-22-6), who currently occupy the third seeding in the West.

Defending Stanley Cup champions Detroit (44-15-9) squandered a 4-1 lead and had to scramble in the final seconds of regulation just to force overtime.

Dan Cleary's tip-in with 42 seconds remaining in the third period tied the game at 5-5 after Calgary tallied four unanswered goals to take the lead.

The Flames surged into control with late third-period goals, Jokinen's score at 17'29" sandwiched between two from Jamie Lundmark. The Red Wings, who have lost three of their last six, claimed an early lead with first-period scores from Henrik Zetterberg and Mikael Samuelsson.

Nicklas Lidstrom and Valtteri Filppula added goals in the second to help Detroit race ahead.

Filppula's goal was his fourth in the last five contests, but it was not enough to prevent Detroit's late lapse.

"When you're backing up too much and just chipping ahead, that's a hard way to play," Lidstrom said. "Teams are going to catch you, and that's what I thought happened tonight."

Detroit goaltender Ty Conklin had 28 saves as he lost in net for just the second time in 11 contests.

The night's other results:

(Home team in CAPS, SO denotes shootout, OT overtime):

BUFFALO 3 Florida 1

NEW JERSEY 5 Phoenix 2

Washington 2 PHILADELPHIA 1

BOSTON 5 Ottawa 3

COLUMBUS 4 Pittsburgh 3 (SO)

Calgary 6 DETROIT 5 (SO)

NY Islanders 3 MONTREAL 2 (OT)

Tampa Bay 4 TORONTO 1

NY Rangers 4 NASHVILLE 2

DALLAS 3 Carolina 2

ST LOUIS 3 San Jose 1

COLORADO 2 Minnesota 1 (SO)

Atlanta 4 EDMONTON 3 (OT)

Reuters