Dallas Stars win 3-2 after shootout against Calgary Flames - NHL Update
Dallas Stars and Calgary Flames played out a close game at the ScotiaBank Saddledome on Sunday, March 3, 2012 as both teams looked to keep their playoff hopes alive. However, it was the Stars who came out on top in the end beating their opponents 3-2 after
a tense shootout.
The Stars who have not been in a playoff game for two years won their second game in a row and put more pressure on Calgary’s faltering bid for the eighth spot in the Western Conference.
Dallas, are now seventh in the Western Conference with 75-points and have picked up form at just the right time.
The Stars led by two goals to one in the third period but Calgary fought back to equalise the game through forward Jarome Iginla and with the game going to a shootout.
Stars’ forward Loui Eriksson stepped up to bag all two points for Dallas and send them up into seventh.
Eriksson speaking to the media after the game was pleased with the two points but warned that more performances will be needed if they are to reach the playoffs.
"We haven't been in the playoffs for a couple years. Definitely, we need to step up here. We've been playing really well lately. It's so tight in the conference. Every game is huge for us. We need to win every one here, so we have to keep going."
Calgary’s own playoff bid took a big hit after another loss and they have now lost two straight games in a row.
The Flames are down in 11th in the Western Conference with 70 points trailing eighth placed San Jose Sharks by three.
Jarome Iginla said after the game.
"It hasn't been easy losing those shootout games. I honestly do feel they can go either way. We need to keep going, moving forward and work on getting the next game."
Both teams looked pumped up on the night as they looked for victory.
Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen made 36 saves in the game while his Flames counterpart Miikka Kiprusoff made 38 saves.
No scoring took place in the first period but it was Calgary who broke the deadlock in the second.
At 7:18 Flames left winger Curtis Glencross broke the deadlock with Calgary going up 1-0 after good work by David Moss to setup the shot.
It took Dallas till 14:59 to equalise as Loui Eriksson scored a shorthanded goal. Three minutes later the Stars got their own power play and took full advantage.
Eriksson turned provider passing the puck to Michael Rider for the go-ahead goal.
Jarome Iginla’s third period goal however, equalised the game for Calgary to send the game to overtime and with no scoring in the extra period it took a shootout to separate the two teams.
Loui Eriksson stepped up once again and netted the winner past Miikka Kiprusoff to give Dallas all two points.
The Stars will now look to continue their playoff push on Tuesday when they face Western Conference leaders Vancouver Canucks while the Flames face a struggling Montreal Canadiens team at home ice.
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