Flames Win Sixth Straight

How about those Calgary Flames?

The hottest team in the NHL right now, the Flames have now won six straight, following a 3-2 triumph over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night.

Thanks to Minnesota's 3-2 win over Phoenix, the Flames (7-3-1) still trail the Wild (7-2-1) for first place in the Northwest Division.

Not bad for a team that was supposed to be underachieving.

The Flames, if you recall, were whipped 6-0 in Vancouver on opening night and followed that up with another loss to the Canucks after being up 3-1.

And of course, there was the Battle of Alberta debacle, when the Flames were swept in a home-and-home series with the Edmonton Oilers, despite having leads in both contests.

But how things have changed.

Since starting out 1-3-1, which caused rumblings about head coach Mike Keenan's future, the Flames have responded in a big way—led by Miikka Kiprusoff.

The Flames goaltender has allowed just nine goals during the current six-game streak.

Kiprusoff, who has started every game in goal this season, was solid once again in the Flames' net, despite seeing more rubber than the Kings' Jason LaBarbera on Saturday.

The Flames were out-shot 36-21.

Calgary jumped out to a 2-0 lead against the Kings, but saw Los Angeles fight back to tie things, with 19-year-old rookie center Oscar Moller potting both Kings goals.

Daymond Langkow, however, responded with the game-winner for Calgary with 3:37 left—less than two-and-a-half minutes after Moller had tied the contest.

Even Todd Bertuzzi, who had six goals with no assists going in, chipped in with two helpers for the Flames.

Eric Nystrom and Adrian Aucoin scored the other Calgary goals.

The Flames will try for the California sweep when they take on the Anaheim Ducks Sunday night.

The Ducks, like the Flames, had started out slowly this season. They have five wins in their last eight, following an 0-4-0 beginning.

**Not only does KP Wee write for Bleacher Report, he’s also a published author. Check out his fiction novel, “Showing Their Scales,” on Amazon.ca and Amazon.com.**