Flames 5, Coyotes 4
CALGARY, Alberta - The Calgary Flames produced a remarkable comeback victory Sunday night when Jarome Iginla and Curtis Glencross scored 23 seconds apart in the final two minutes of the third period to give the Flames a 5-4 win over the Phoenix Coyotes.
Iginla, who was in a scoring slump, tied the score with 1:23 left when he bobbled a close-in chance before it rolled into the net.
Then, Glencross ripped a shot from the slot for the winner with 60 seconds left on the clock.
The Flames improved to .500 at 7-7-3 and put themselves just two points out of the Western Conference's top eight.
From the drop of the puck, it was a see-saw game.
Calgary winger Tim Jackman scored his first goal in 52 games, and first since Dec. 29, 2011, to open the scoring, but the Coyotes took the lead with second-period goals from Michael Stone and Raffi Torres.
But the lead was short-lived for the visitors.
Iginla snapped a nine-game goal-scoring drought to draw the Flames even and Michael Cammalleri restored Calgary's lead with a top-shelf shot in the final minute of the second period.
In keeping with the trend of the night, the Coyotes again came back, drawing even when Torres netted his second of the game to give the Coyotes momentum. Then, Nick Johnson scored for Phoenix to give the Coyotes the lead a second time.
But the Flames came through just as the crowd at the Scotiabank Saddledome began to file to the exits.
Flames goalie Joey MacDonald made 23 saves to record the win, while Coyotes netminder Mike Smith stopped 26 shots for the Coyotes, who fell to 8-7-3.
NOTES: Flames forward Steve Begin played his 500th career game. It's not a major milestone, but worth noting because it looked like his career was over two years ago. He missed last season due to hip surgery before coming to camp on a tryout basis and earning a contract. "I'm a big supporter of Steve Begin," coach Bob Hartley said. "There's not enough guys like him in this league. He's all about the team." ... According to a report in the Utica Observer-Dispatch, Calgary's top minor league affiliate will be moved from Abbotsford, British Columbia, after four disappointing seasons to the city in New York in time for next season. The Flames denied the report. ... The Coyotes went into the game with a 31-13-6 record against Canadian teams since the start of the 2009-10 season. ... Flames defenseman Jay Bouwmeester played the 734th game of his career, which ties him with Guy Charron (who played in the NHL from 1970-71 through 1980-81) for most games without skating in the playoffs.
