The last time the Calgary Flames were in Denver, their Dec. 21 game against the Avalanche was postponed because of a blizzard.
The Avs probably wish Thursday’s game with the Flames was postponed because of the frigid temperatures.
Calgary felt right at home at the Pepsi Center, getting two goals and four points from veteran center Daymond Langkow in a 7-3 victory that served as Colorado’s first loss of 2007. The Avs, who trailed 6-2 going into the third period, were trying to extend their season-best stretch (3-0-1).
Colorado scored three power-play goals in the first two periods, but flunked out with the man-advantage by allowing two shorthanded goals during that span.
“Second period was the whole game,” Avs coach Joel Quenneville said. “The second short-handed goal was killer. You’re not going to win giving up two short-handed goals. …
“(I’m) disappointed with our effort.”
Langkow scored Calgary’s second short-handed goal 10:14 into the second period to give the visitors a 4-2 lead, and Langkow’s second goal came less than two minutes later and chased goalie Peter Budaj.
Budaj started his seventh consecutive game and 11th of Colorado’s past 14. He was 7-2-1 in that stretch but barely made it past the halfway mark against the Flames. He allowed five goals on just 17 shots before being relieved by Jose Theodore.
The Avs, 9-5-1 against Northwest Division teams, scored the first and last goals of a wild four-goal first period.
Marek Svatos beat Calgary goalie Miikka Kiprusoff 9:53 into the game before Calgary went ahead 2-1 on goals by defenseman Roman Hamrlik and Kristian Huselius. The latter Flames goal came during a Colorado power play, but the Avs evened it on their ensuing power play, on Paul Stastny’s backhander from the bottom of the left circle.
Milan Hejduk put a shot past Kiprusoff at the first-period buzzer, but video replay proved the puck crossed the line after time expired.
Instead of a 3-2 Avs lead, Calgary went ahead by that margin early in the second period, thanks to a sharp behind-the-net feed from former Colorado star Alex Tanguay. David Moss’ one-timer from Tanguay’s pass made Budaj just 9-of-12 in the saves department. Five shots and two Langkow goals later, he was on the bench.
“They beat us to every loose puck,” center Ian Laperriere said. “We didn’t match their intensity.”
The Avs climbed to 5-3 on Andrew Brunette’s power-play goal at 15:23, but Calgary’s lead rose to three again when Theodore allowed a soft goal at 19:02.
Tony Amonte got all of his semi-slap shot from the right circle, and Theodore was screened from the puck by a defenseman but still had ample time to react.
The Avs and Flames will meet six more times in the second half of the regular season.
Staff writer Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
