Flames 3, Ducks 1
CALGARY, Alberta -- If that's the last Calgary Flames fans see of Miikka Kiprusoff live and in person, what a final sight he gave them.
Kiprusoff, the star netminder who apparently is seriously contemplating retirement after this season, made 32 saves in a 3-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
The Flames are eliminated from playoff contention but have won four of their last five games, including consecutive outings with Kiprusoff in goal.
The announced sellout crowd of 19,289 serenaded him with a standing ovation during the final two minutes.
Kiprusoff, the Flames' career leader in wins, shutouts and pretty much every other goaltender statistic, was on the mark from the drop of the puck. And his team, loaded with youngsters called up from the minors, did all it could to make his finale in the Stampede City something to celebrate.
Roman Horak, who spent the bulk of the season in the minors, scored his second goal of the season and Brian McGrattan delivered his third goal of the season to give the Flames a 2-0 lead early in the third period.
McGrattan has three goals in 19 games this season. The big winger whose hands are usually used for knocking skulls, scored three goals in 212 NHL games before this season.
Corey Perry put the Ducks on the board in the final minutes, but Roman Cervenka iced the game with an empty-netter.
The Ducks appear destined to win the Pacific Division and claim the second seed in the Western Conference in the playoffs, but they have dropped four straight, three of those in regulation.
NOTES: The Flames are in the midst of an injury wave involving their veterans. Both defenseman Dennis Wideman and left winger Steve Begin suffered injuries in Wednesday's victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Then, early in this game, left winger Curtis Glencross, the club's leading goal scorer, suffered a knee injury when hit in a dangerous fashion by Ducks defenseman Ben Lovejoy. ... Calgary's top farm team, the Abbotsford Heat of the AHL, will finish its season Saturday, and an airlift of up to eight players is expected to arrive in time for Sunday's game in Minnesota ... The Ducks, who have clinched a playoff spot, sat right winger Teemu Selanne and goalie Viktor Fasth, who are both dealing with slight injuries not expected to impact them come playoff time. They did get some good news regarding defenseman Cam Fowler returning to action. defensemen Toni Lydman and Luca Sbisa are also close to returning from injury. ... The Flames signed second-round draft choice Markus Granlund, the 45th overall pick in the 2011 draft, to a three-year contract on Friday. Granlund was a force at the past world juniors, scoring five goals and 12 points in six games. He also had 10 goals and 30 points with HIFK Helsinki in Finland's top league.
