Recap: Columbus vs. Calgary
Sports Network | November 08, 2008
Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - Derick Brassard's early second-period goal proved to be the game-winner, as the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Calgary Flames, 3-1, at Nationwide Arena.
Jason Chimera and Manny Malhotra also scored for the Blue Jackets, who have won three in a row and recorded at least a point in six consecutive games (4-0-2). Rookie Steve Mason made 22 saves to pick up his third win in as many starts.
"He's just solid everywhere right now," Columbus head coach Ken Hitchcock said of Mason. "There are no holes in his game, there's no easy goals that go in and he's working well with the defensemen."
Jarome Iginla lit the lamp for Calgary, which has dropped three of its last four games. Curtis McElhinney, making his 2008-09 debut and second career start, allowed three goals on 28 shots to take the loss. Miikka Kiprusoff had started the first 14 games for the Flames this season.
"The chances were fairly even and they capitalized on some errors that we made, and that was fundamentally the difference in the hockey game," said Flames head coach Mike Keenan. "It was a tight game on both sides."
Chimera opened the scoring 4:03 into the contest, but Calgary tied the game at 1:05 of the second period on Iginla's power-play tally.
Columbus, though, regained the lead just 1:52 later. Mike Commodore chipped the puck ahead to Brassard and the rookie forward galloped down the right wing, splitting two defenders in the process, and fired a shot past the blocker of McElhinney.
A great individual effort by Malhotra resulted in a 3-1 lead for the Blue Jackets.
Malhotra sacrificed the body to block a shot in the defensive zone. He then skated along the far boards to the other end of the rink and faked the slapper before firing a shot over McElhinney's left shoulder at the 8:37 mark of the third period.
The Blue Jackets have won four of the last six meetings...Iginla leads the Flames with nine goals and 19 points...Columbus captain Rick Nash extended his goal-less streak to nine games. He totaled five goals in the season's first six games.
