Calgary, AB (My Sportsbook) - Jarome Iginla recorded two goals and two assists to lead the
Calgary Flames over the Columbus Blue Jackets, 4-1, at Saddledome.
Mike Cammalleri notched a goal and two assists while Dion Phaneuf also scored for the Flames, who have won three straight and five of their last six games overall. Miikka Kiprusoff made 28 saves in the win.
"He's been a driving force for us all season and a leader, doing intangibles that maybe aren't seen on a daily basis, but on nights like this it certainly shows on the score sheet," said Cammalleri about Iginla.
R.J. Umberger scored the only goal for Columbus, which is now 2-2-1 after its four-game win streak in mid-February. Steve Mason allowed three goals on 27 shots in the losing effort.
After Iginla's goal only 45 seconds into the game gave the Flames an early lead, the Blue Jackets knotted the contest less than three minutes later.
Jason Williams held control behind the net and sent a drop pass into the low slot, where Umberger's shot on goal was deflected. The puck caromed into midair before Umberger followed up and batted it past Kiprusoff into the back of the cage at the 3:12 mark.
The Flames, though, moved ahead 2-1 when Phaneuf notched his eighth goal of the season at 11:57 of the second stanza. With the Flames on the power play due to an interference call on Marc Methot. Phaneuf gathered the puck along the half-wall at the right point, drifted along the blue line toward the centerpoint and ripped home a slap shot.
Calgary struck again with 4:48 remaining before the second intermission. On the left side of the offensive zone, Iginla accepted a pass from Jamie Lundmark before he sent a pass across the low slot for Cammalleri, who one- timed the puck from in close near the right post.
"We got much better as the game went on," said Calgary head coach Mike Keenan. "Once we established the lead, we played well defensively. The leadership of our group was outstanding tonight. That's important to sustain success at this level of competition."
Iginla's empty-net goal inside the final minute of regulation capped the scoring.
Game Notes
Calgary has earned at least one point in eight consecutive games (5-0-3)...Umberger reached a career-high for goals in a season (21)...Flames forward Daymond Langkow missed his third straight game with a bruised hand...Columbus fell to 11-15-4 on the road in 2008-09...The visitors ended 0- for-4 on the power play and the Flames were 1-for-2 with the extra skater.