Calgary, AB (Sports Network) – Miikka Kiprusoff made 27 saves for his second shutout of the season, and the Calgary Flames scored four goals in the first period to post a 4-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks at Scotiabank Saddledome.
Rene Bourque scored two goals to give him five in the last two games for the Flames, who have won four of five and have tallied 10 goals in their last two games after scoring 11 in their first six. Kiprusoff, meanwhile, notched his 36th career shutout.
“Whether we scored or not we were playing well,” said Flames head coach Brent Sutter. “We were able to have the emotion level we wanted to have. We took advantage of the opportunities and made the most of them.”
Jarome Iginla and Craig Conroy also scored for Calgary, which began a five- game homestand.
Joe Pavelski registered six shots on goal for the Sharks, who had won their last two. Antti Niemi allowed three goals on five shots before giving way to Antero Niittymaki, who made 24 saves.
Calgary started quickly, beating Niemi three times on five shots to knock San Jose’s netminder out of the contest.
After Bourque’s first tally at 4:12, Iginla took a trailing pass from Alex Tanguay and beat Niemi high and to the right from the inside of the left circle with just 6:01 played in the game.
Only 2 1/2 minutes later, Conroy’s second tally of the year made it 3-0, so Niittymaki came in for the Sharks.
It didn’t get much better, as Calgary padded its lead on Bourque’s shot from the top of the slot. Niittymaki wasn’t screened, but the puck trickled through his legs and snuck inside the left post with 8:13 left in the first period.
“In the first period there probably could have been two pucks on the ice and we wouldn’t have had either one of them,” said Sharks head coach Todd McLellan. “We weren’t playing the way we’re supposed to play as far as the system went, and it was very disappointing.”
San Jose had a pair of power play opportunities in the second period, but couldn’t take advantage, as Kiprusoff sent away all 12 shots that went his way. The Sharks’ offense barely threatened in the final period, and Calgary’s goaltender turned away all nine shots to preserve the whitewash.
The Flames are 29-for-32 on the penalty kill this season…The teams have split four games in each of the last two seasons…Calgary improved to 3-1 this season at home.