The Calgary Flames denied the Detroit Red Wings a chance to take over the Western Conference lead, holding off the visitors 5-3 on Monday. Calgary, the conference's No 3 team, stormed to a 3-0 lead and sent the starting Detroit netminder Chris Osgood to the sideline in the second period. The Red Wings fought back to trail 4-3 with 6:57 left in the game.
An empty-netter by Craig Conroy in the closing minute wrapped up the win for the Northwest Division-leading Flames, who ended a four-game Red Wings' winning run. Detroit, the Central Division's top team, could have overtaken the idle San Jose for the Western lead with a victory. The Sharks lead the conference with 106 points. The Red Wings have 105 and the Flames 90. "It wasn't very good, obviously," the Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "Anytime you have a tough night in net, it's a concern."
Mike Cammalleri's goal and two assists helped Calgary play spoiler with Curtis Glencross's third-period wrister providing the game-winner. "Cammy and [Daymond] Langkow were absolutely flying," the Flames captain Jarome Iginia said. Glencross's goal put the Flames up 4-1 with 5:31 expired in the third before the Red Wings made a game of it. Johan Franzen and Jiri Hudler struck for goals in a three-minute span to bring the Red Wings within a goal.
The Calgary netminder Miikka Kiprusoff held Detroit scoreless the remainder of the game. He had 30 saves for the contest. Osgood lasted 26 minutes before goals by Dion Phaneuf, Jamie Lundmark and Cammalleri prompted his exit. He stopped 11 of 14 shots before departing. Ty Conklin finished in net, saving 11 of 12 Calgary shots. "My worst game in this building," Osgood admitted afterwards. Pavel Datsyuk had Detroit's other goal, scoring in the second off an assist by Franzen.
Elsewhere, Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne scored in the third period to lift the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-2 win over the New Jersey Devils. * Agencies