Flames beat Coyotes 4-2

[March 02, 2012]  GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Olli Jokinen capped Calgary's three-goal outburst in the first period and the Flames defeated the Phoenix Coyotes 4-2 Thursday night.

The loss was the first for Phoenix at home since falling to Anaheim in late January, and ended a Coyotes run of 11-0-1 in the last 12 games. Phoenix goalie Mike Smith had only one loss in his last 12 games before he was outplayed by Calgary's Miikka Kiprusoff.

Kiprusoff made 29 saves.

The Flames had lost their last four games.

Fighting for playoff position, the Flames made a strong statement with three goals in a span of 3:17 late in the first period. Scores from Mike Cammalleri, shorthanded, from Curtis Glencross and from Jokinen lifted the Flames.

Jarome Iginla hit the empty net for the final Calgary goal.

Goals from Raffi Torres and Michal Rozsival brought Phoenix within one, but the Coyotes could not get the equalizer.

The Calgary goals all resulted from Phoenix mistakes in its own end.

First, Cammalleri converted Jarome Iginia's pass into his 15th of the season. Less than two minutes later, Glencross picked up the Flames second short-handed goal of the season when he skated around Ray Whitney and put the puck between Smith's right skate and the right post.

Jokinen then took the puck off Keith Yandle's stick and his backhander dropped in behind Smith to give the Flames a commanding lead after the first 20 minutes.

The Coyotes did not waste much time in making a response: two goals in a span of 2:21.

Less than a minute and a half into the second period, Torres tipped in a shot by Yandle and then Rozsival, crashing in from the left point, blasted a 20-footer behind Kiprusoff at 3:48.

In the closing minutes of the period, Whitney had two opportunities to tie the game, First, he failed to convert on a breakaway, and on a late power play, he hit the left post behind Kiprusoff.

NOTES: Cammalleri's goal was his fifth in 19 games since being traded from Montreal. . The win was Tippett's 398th as NHL coach, and remains second behind Mike Babcock (413) among active coaches. . Calgary D Jay Bouwmeester played in his 560th straight game, ninth on the all-time list.

[Associated Press]

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