CALGARY -- The Calgary Flames seem to be more comfortable when theyre against the ropes. Nike Shoes Discount Australia . Joe Colborne capped off a thrilling game, scoring the only goal of the shootout as the Flames overcame a two-goal third period deficit for an improbable 4-3 win over the red-hot St. Louis Blues on Monday. In the shootout, Colborne shot first and beat Jaroslav Halak on a deke for his third goal on four attempts this season. Reto Berra secured the victory in net by denying TJ Oshie, Derek Roy and Magnus Paajarvi. "Weve been doing it all year," said Colborne. "It seems like when we have a lead going into the third period, were more nervous than we are when we come in and were down." Flames captain Mark Giordano forced the shootout, dramatically tying the game with five seconds left in the third period. Patrick Berglunds holding penalty gave Calgary a power play for the final 1:37 of the third. Flames coach Bob Hartley added more pop to his offence by pulling Berra, making it a six-on-four situation. The ploy worked as Calgary poured on the pressure. At one point after a slick passing sequence, rookie Sean Monahan -- staring at an empty net -- had the tying goal roll off his stick. No matter, Hudlers long diagonal pass was one-timed in by Giordano, sending the sell-out crowd of 19,289 into a frenzy. "I was just hoping he saw me because I saw the lane open right up," Giordano said. "When I saw it coming over and he laid it nice and flat for me. I just obviously tried to get a shot on net and it was a really good feeling to see that one go in for sure." Hartley likes his teams determination when its behind. "We know the trademark of our team. Credit goes to our players. They never quit," Hartley said. "We dont want to fall behind but we always feel as a coaching staff that we keep supporting those guys and they always come up with a big goal, a big effort." After the game Hartley emphasized the importance of heading in to the holiday season on a high note. "This morning, I told them. I know its one game out of 82 but the last game before Christmas, its always special," said Hartley. "Youre going home, your families will be around and many times they talk to you about your last game. So, for our players, to go back in their families, theyll have plenty to talk about." Among the conversation starters will be defeating the Blues when they score first as they did -- St. Louis entered the night 21-1-2 when that occurs, and when they lead after two periods as they did -- they entered the night 16-0-2 in that scenario. The Flames lead the league in one-goal games, the latest being a 4-3 loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday in which a third period comeback came up short. Hudler and Mike Cammalleri also scored for Calgary (14-17-6) on Monday. The win kicked off a five-game homestand for the Flames and also snapped a three-game winless skid. Kevin Shattenkirk, Jaden Schwartz and Paajarvi scored for St. Louis (24-7-5) in regulation. The Blues took three out of four points in Alberta and head home 5-1-2 in their last eight. "Its uncharacteristic but a learning lesson for us," said Blues captain David Backes. "We played a team tonight that played their butts off and was on an uphill trajectory all game. They got better as the game went on and we plateaued and took out foot off the gas a little bit." The Blues looked like they had the game well under control when goals 44 seconds apart in the second period from Schwartz and Paajarvi broke open a 1-1 tie and sent St. Louis to the intermission up by two. "Teams in the west will take it to you if you let your foot off the gas and this team is no different. A little credit to them but were going to look inside our room and make sure were better next time we come out," said Backes. Blues coach Ken Hitchcock spoke only briefly and echoed what his captain said. "We lost composure with the puck. We made some puck errors. We got caught not clearing pucks at the end. We had full control of the hockey game," said Hitchcock. "We were just winding the game down and made some puck errors and the next thing you know it was in our net." Berra had 32 saves, while Halak made 26 stops. Notes: Flames centre Matt Stajan left the game late in overtime after a knee-on-knee collision with David Backes, who was penalized for kneeing on the play. There was no update after the game on his condition. ... Calgary announced that Curtis Glencross (high ankle sprain), who earlier in the year missed 15 games with a knee injury, will miss eight weeks while D Kris Russell (sprained knee) will miss the next 4-6 weeks. Also out is C Blair Jones (knee, indefinite). That left D Derek Smith as the lone healthy scratch... Taking Russells spot on the Calgary blue-line was Chris Breen.... With Alex Steen (upper body) out for the Blues, 20-year-old Dmitrij Jaskin, recalled from Chicago (AHL), made his season debut and played alongside Oshie and Backes. Nike Air Max 90 Mens Australia Sale . -- Martin Kaymer never lost sight of opportunity even amid so much evidence of trouble in the closing stretch Sunday at The Players Championship. Nike Air Force 1 07 Australia . -- Adam Tambellini scored three times and set up one more as the Calgary Hitmen won their sixth in a row by crushing the host Lethbridge Hurricanes 8-1 on Saturday in Western Hockey League play.EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - Marian Gaboriks new teammates with the Los Angeles Kings initially wondered whether such a talented goal-scorer could fit into a defence-dominated team when he arrived in a trade last month. Nobody is wondering anymore after Gaborik helped the Kings reach the post-season on a roll. "It took me a little bit, but I think I adjusted pretty good," Gaborik said Tuesday while the Kings prepared for their first-round opener against San Jose. Gaborik scored 16 points in 19 games as the Kings top-line left wing down the stretch, adapting his game to coach Darryl Sutters preferences while still providing his own unique offensive talents to the NHLs best defensive team. He fits in well in his third dressing room in two seasons, with teammates praising the veterans commitment and talent with equal enthusiasm. "I think hes been our best player since hes got here," defenceman Drew Doughty said. "No matter who gets traded here, you wonder how theyre going to fit into the system," Doughty added. "(But) he played in Minnesota. He knew how to play that system back in the day. Hes obviously amazing offensively, but he is good defensively. He tries his best, and thats all you can ask." Although Los Angeles has reached back-to-back conference finals, offence is seemingly always a concern. The Kings are the lowest-scoring team in the NHL post-season with just 198 regular-season goals, but Gaboriks arrival has assuaged many fears about their ability to score enough goals to win in the spring. Gaboriks impressive speed immediately changed opponents defensive game plans after his arrival from Columbus. He finally became the goal-scoring left wing that the Kings have long lacked to play alongside Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles sublime playmaker and two-way centre. Justin Williams plays the right side on a suddenly potent top line, and Gaboriks arrival allowed the Kings to balance out their depth lines as well. Gaborik has five goals with his famously vicious wrist shot, but he has been even more valuable with 11 assists. He put together a three-ppoint game in the Kings road finale in Edmonton last Thursday. Discount Vans Shoes Australia. Gaborik sees nothing special in his handling of what could have been a rough assignment in Los Angeles. Playing for Sutter didnt scare Gaborik after his experience under coaches with similar defensive demands such as Jacques Lemaire in Minnesota and John Tortorella with the Rangers. "Just go out there, work hard and follow the system," Gaborik said. "Make sure youre on the right side of the puck, and be in the right position when youre skating. Be on top of things." Gaboriks arrival and Los Angeles ensuing excellence have echoed the Kings success two years ago after they acquired Jeff Carter from Columbus during a disappointing regular season. Carter added his goal-scoring skills to a low-scoring lineup, and the Kings goals-per-game average rose — just as it did this season after Gaborik pulled on a black jersey. Doughty initially thought Gaborik was "more of just a scorer," but quickly realized there was much more to his new teammate. "Hes kind of a guy like Carts, where Carts just seems to put pucks in the net," Doughty said. "You dont understand how it goes in. It just goes in. Hell obviously get the pretty ones, too, but I thought he was just a pure goal-scorer. Just sat in the slot and found pucks and put them in. But hes a great passer, too, and hes good at finding open ice. Hes good at getting support for his linemates and getting them out of a battle and then making a play to create an opportunity." While still near the prime of his career, the 32-year-old Gaborik is an impending free agent with a history of injury woes, so he realizes the urgency of every remaining chance at a Stanley Cup title. He has reached two conference finals in his NHL career, but never played for the Cup. "You get that feeling that youre getting close, but its really hard," Gaborik said. "Im really going to embrace this opportunity and take it, and Im very excited for that. It doesnt come every year, and we feel we have a good team to do it." ' ' '
CALGARY -- The Calgary Flames seem to be more comfortable when theyre against the ropes. Nike Shoes Discount Australia . Joe Colborne capped off a thrilling game, scoring the only goal of the shootout as the Flames overcame a two-goal third period deficit for an improbable 4-3 win over the red-hot St. Louis Blues on Monday. In the shootout, Colborne shot first and beat Jaroslav Halak on a deke for his third goal on four attempts this season. Reto Berra secured the victory in net by denying TJ Oshie, Derek Roy and Magnus Paajarvi. "Weve been doing it all year," said Colborne. "It seems like when we have a lead going into the third period, were more nervous than we are when we come in and were down." Flames captain Mark Giordano forced the shootout, dramatically tying the game with five seconds left in the third period. Patrick Berglunds holding penalty gave Calgary a power play for the final 1:37 of the third. Flames coach Bob Hartley added more pop to his offence by pulling Berra, making it a six-on-four situation. The ploy worked as Calgary poured on the pressure. At one point after a slick passing sequence, rookie Sean Monahan -- staring at an empty net -- had the tying goal roll off his stick. No matter, Hudlers long diagonal pass was one-timed in by Giordano, sending the sell-out crowd of 19,289 into a frenzy. "I was just hoping he saw me because I saw the lane open right up," Giordano said. "When I saw it coming over and he laid it nice and flat for me. I just obviously tried to get a shot on net and it was a really good feeling to see that one go in for sure." Hartley likes his teams determination when its behind. "We know the trademark of our team. Credit goes to our players. They never quit," Hartley said. "We dont want to fall behind but we always feel as a coaching staff that we keep supporting those guys and they always come up with a big goal, a big effort." After the game Hartley emphasized the importance of heading in to the holiday season on a high note. "This morning, I told them. I know its one game out of 82 but the last game before Christmas, its always special," said Hartley. "Youre going home, your families will be around and many times they talk to you about your last game. So, for our players, to go back in their families, theyll have plenty to talk about." Among the conversation starters will be defeating the Blues when they score first as they did -- St. Louis entered the night 21-1-2 when that occurs, and when they lead after two periods as they did -- they entered the night 16-0-2 in that scenario. The Flames lead the league in one-goal games, the latest being a 4-3 loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday in which a third period comeback came up short. Hudler and Mike Cammalleri also scored for Calgary (14-17-6) on Monday. The win kicked off a five-game homestand for the Flames and also snapped a three-game winless skid. Kevin Shattenkirk, Jaden Schwartz and Paajarvi scored for St. Louis (24-7-5) in regulation. The Blues took three out of four points in Alberta and head home 5-1-2 in their last eight. "Its uncharacteristic but a learning lesson for us," said Blues captain David Backes. "We played a team tonight that played their butts off and was on an uphill trajectory all game. They got better as the game went on and we plateaued and took out foot off the gas a little bit." The Blues looked like they had the game well under control when goals 44 seconds apart in the second period from Schwartz and Paajarvi broke open a 1-1 tie and sent St. Louis to the intermission up by two. "Teams in the west will take it to you if you let your foot off the gas and this team is no different. A little credit to them but were going to look inside our room and make sure were better next time we come out," said Backes. Blues coach Ken Hitchcock spoke only briefly and echoed what his captain said. "We lost composure with the puck. We made some puck errors. We got caught not clearing pucks at the end. We had full control of the hockey game," said Hitchcock. "We were just winding the game down and made some puck errors and the next thing you know it was in our net." Berra had 32 saves, while Halak made 26 stops. Notes: Flames centre Matt Stajan left the game late in overtime after a knee-on-knee collision with David Backes, who was penalized for kneeing on the play. There was no update after the game on his condition. ... Calgary announced that Curtis Glencross (high ankle sprain), who earlier in the year missed 15 games with a knee injury, will miss eight weeks while D Kris Russell (sprained knee) will miss the next 4-6 weeks. Also out is C Blair Jones (knee, indefinite). That left D Derek Smith as the lone healthy scratch... Taking Russells spot on the Calgary blue-line was Chris Breen.... With Alex Steen (upper body) out for the Blues, 20-year-old Dmitrij Jaskin, recalled from Chicago (AHL), made his season debut and played alongside Oshie and Backes. Nike Air Max 90 Mens Australia Sale . -- Martin Kaymer never lost sight of opportunity even amid so much evidence of trouble in the closing stretch Sunday at The Players Championship. Nike Air Force 1 07 Australia . -- Adam Tambellini scored three times and set up one more as the Calgary Hitmen won their sixth in a row by crushing the host Lethbridge Hurricanes 8-1 on Saturday in Western Hockey League play.EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - Marian Gaboriks new teammates with the Los Angeles Kings initially wondered whether such a talented goal-scorer could fit into a defence-dominated team when he arrived in a trade last month. Nobody is wondering anymore after Gaborik helped the Kings reach the post-season on a roll. "It took me a little bit, but I think I adjusted pretty good," Gaborik said Tuesday while the Kings prepared for their first-round opener against San Jose. Gaborik scored 16 points in 19 games as the Kings top-line left wing down the stretch, adapting his game to coach Darryl Sutters preferences while still providing his own unique offensive talents to the NHLs best defensive team. He fits in well in his third dressing room in two seasons, with teammates praising the veterans commitment and talent with equal enthusiasm. "I think hes been our best player since hes got here," defenceman Drew Doughty said. "No matter who gets traded here, you wonder how theyre going to fit into the system," Doughty added. "(But) he played in Minnesota. He knew how to play that system back in the day. Hes obviously amazing offensively, but he is good defensively. He tries his best, and thats all you can ask." Although Los Angeles has reached back-to-back conference finals, offence is seemingly always a concern. The Kings are the lowest-scoring team in the NHL post-season with just 198 regular-season goals, but Gaboriks arrival has assuaged many fears about their ability to score enough goals to win in the spring. Gaboriks impressive speed immediately changed opponents defensive game plans after his arrival from Columbus. He finally became the goal-scoring left wing that the Kings have long lacked to play alongside Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles sublime playmaker and two-way centre. Justin Williams plays the right side on a suddenly potent top line, and Gaboriks arrival allowed the Kings to balance out their depth lines as well. Gaborik has five goals with his famously vicious wrist shot, but he has been even more valuable with 11 assists. He put together a three-ppoint game in the Kings road finale in Edmonton last Thursday. Discount Vans Shoes Australia. Gaborik sees nothing special in his handling of what could have been a rough assignment in Los Angeles. Playing for Sutter didnt scare Gaborik after his experience under coaches with similar defensive demands such as Jacques Lemaire in Minnesota and John Tortorella with the Rangers. "Just go out there, work hard and follow the system," Gaborik said. "Make sure youre on the right side of the puck, and be in the right position when youre skating. Be on top of things." Gaboriks arrival and Los Angeles ensuing excellence have echoed the Kings success two years ago after they acquired Jeff Carter from Columbus during a disappointing regular season. Carter added his goal-scoring skills to a low-scoring lineup, and the Kings goals-per-game average rose — just as it did this season after Gaborik pulled on a black jersey. Doughty initially thought Gaborik was "more of just a scorer," but quickly realized there was much more to his new teammate. "Hes kind of a guy like Carts, where Carts just seems to put pucks in the net," Doughty said. "You dont understand how it goes in. It just goes in. Hell obviously get the pretty ones, too, but I thought he was just a pure goal-scorer. Just sat in the slot and found pucks and put them in. But hes a great passer, too, and hes good at finding open ice. Hes good at getting support for his linemates and getting them out of a battle and then making a play to create an opportunity." While still near the prime of his career, the 32-year-old Gaborik is an impending free agent with a history of injury woes, so he realizes the urgency of every remaining chance at a Stanley Cup title. He has reached two conference finals in his NHL career, but never played for the Cup. "You get that feeling that youre getting close, but its really hard," Gaborik said. "Im really going to embrace this opportunity and take it, and Im very excited for that. It doesnt come every year, and we feel we have a good team to do it." ' ' '