Vancouver, British Columbia – Daymond Langkow had a goal and two assists, and Miikka Kiprusoff made 32 saves as the Calgary Flames moved closer to clinching a playoff spot with a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.
Kristian Huselius had a goal and an assist, and Craig Conroy also scored as the Flames remained seven points ahead of Colorado for the final Western Conference playoff spot.
They can clinch by beating the Avalanche in Calgary on Tuesday, one of two remaining head-to-head matchups between the teams.
Calgary has won six straight since Colorado closed within four points two weeks ago. The past four have come on the road, a season-best for a Flames team that came in with 12 wins – the fourth fewest in the league – away from home.
Brendan Morrison and Markus Naslund made it close as the Canucks outshot Calgary 16-4 in the third period before losing in regulation for just the second time in 15 games (11-2-2). Roberto Luongo finished with 15 saves as Vancouver remained three points ahead of Minnesota atop the Northwest Division.
Morrison ended the shutout bid 6:37 into the third, and Naslund pulled the Canucks within one by scoring a controversial power-play goal with 3:54 left.
With the puck lying on the goal line during a wild scramble, Naslund appeared to miss it with a lunging attempt with his stick.
It went in as he jammed at it with his glove. Replays showed the puck didn’t go over the line until a diving Kiprusoff hit it with his blocker.
