Kiprusoff returns, leads Flames over Sharks 4-1

[March 07, 2013]  CALGARY, Alberta (AP) -- Miikka Kiprusoff made 32 saves in his return from a knee injury to lead the Calgary Flames to a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday night.

Blake Comeau scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third period. Jarome Iginla, Roman Cervenka and Curtis Glencross (into an empty net) also scored for Calgary, which improved to 4-1-1 in its last six games.

Joe Thornton had the only goal for the Sharks, who are 2-6-1 in their last nine.

Kiprusoff returned to the lineup after missing 13 games with a sprained knee. The 36-year-old goalie was injured in the second period of Calgary's 4-1 win over the Red Wings on Feb. 5. Calgary went 6-5-2 during his absence.

Kiprusoff was busiest in the third as the Sharks had the period's only two power plays and outshot Calgary 17-6. But they couldn't beat Kiprusoff, who began his NHL career with the Sharks 12 years ago.

Calgary took a 2-1 lead at 2:57 of the third when Comeau burst down the right wing and snapped a shot inside the far post, past San Jose goalie Thomas Greiss.

It was Comeau's first goal this season and just his second in the last 41 games, dating to last season.

Less than 2 minutes later, Iginla scored his sixth goal in the last five games by ripping a shot past Greiss from the slot after being set up by Jiri Hudler.

The Flames took a 1-0 lead at 4:27 of the first period, before the Sharks had put their first shot on Kiprusoff. A shot by defenseman Jay Bouwmeester was stopped by Greiss, but the rebound kicked out to Cervenka, who scored his first goal in nine games.

Greiss was making his first start for the Sharks in 10 games. Anntti Niemi was given the night off after beating the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night.

Greiss finished with 22 saves on 25 shots.

San Jose's power play has been a problem of late. After going 0 for 4 against Calgary, the Sharks are 3 for 42 in their last 10 games.

Calgary was 0 for 2 with the extra man.

NOTES: During the second intermission, a fan stripped down to his boxers and strutted across the ice, making it all the way to center ice before security escorted him off. ... Calgary coach Bob Hartley earned his 338th career win, tying Michel Bergeron for 39th on the NHL list. ... It was the ninth anniversary of the start of Bouwmeester's iron man streak, which is at 609 games, sixth longest all-time.

[Associated Press]

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