(Sports Network) - Kristian Huselius registered a goal and two assists as the Calgary Flames defeated the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, 5-2, at the Pond to take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal. Game 4 will be played Thursday in Anaheim.
Robyn Regehr tallied a goal and an assist and Miikka Kiprusoff made 27 saves for Calgary, which won in Anaheim for just the second time in its last 14 tries. Daymond Langkow, Chuck Kobasew and Darren McCarty added goals for the Flames.
"The first couple of games we were a little tight," said Flames captain Jarome Iginla. "Tonight we were more relaxed, more determined and enjoying the playoffs. This is what it's all about."
Francois Beauchemin scored both of the Ducks' goals and Scott Niedermayer added two assists but Jean-Sebastien Giguere stopped 19 shots for Anaheim, which gave up three power-play goals.
"We have no room for mistakes next game or throughout the rest of the series," said Giguere. "We have nothing to lose. We have overcome challenges before during the season and this will be no different."
Calgary drew first blood with 5:59 left in the opening frame while on the man advantage when Langkow beat Giguere top shelf with a wrister from the left circle for a 1-0 lead.
Anaheim answered with 2:34 left in the first period while on the power play after Beauchemin beat Kiprusoff top shelf with a one-timer from the right point to make it 1-1.
Calgary regained the lead 1:25 into the second period while on the man advantage when Huselius poked a rebound past Giguere's glove side for a 2-1 lead.
The Ducks netted the equalizer 8:16 into the middle stanza after Beauchemin beat Kiprusoff glove side with a one-timer from the high slot to make it 2-2.
Calgary, however, scored the next three goals to establish a commanding lead.
The Flames took the lead for good with 4:26 left in the second period when Kobasew's wrister squirted through Giguere's five hole for a 3-2 advantage.
Calgary upped its lead 4:59 into the final frame when McCarty stuffed the disc past Giguere glove side along the ice for a 4-2 lead. The Flames capped the scoring less than a minute later while on the power play after Regehr beat Giguere stick side with a wrister from the left circle to make it 5-2.
Game Notes
For the first time in its eight playoff series, Anaheim played Game 3 with the series tied...The home club had won all four meetings during the regular season...Giguere fell to 16-7 in 23 career playoff outings...Calgary finished 3-for-7 on the power play, while Anaheim went 2-for-9.
