Boyle nets hat-trick in win over Wild
21.03.06 22:45MST
Flames win 4-3 on the road
Defenseman Dan Boyle was the difference maker for the Calgary Flames as they defeated the Minnesota Wild tonight by a score of 4-3. The blueliner scored 3 goals, 2 of which on the powerplay, and continues his stellar season with career highs with 22 goals and 56 points.
"He had his legs moving tonight." Noted Coach Fyvie on his defenseman's performance. "He's been solid all year for us."
Mike Cammalleri opened the scoring for the Flames with his career high 31st goal of the season at 5:53 of the first period from Iginla and Daymond Langkow. Minnesota native and Wild star Zach Parise tied the game with a short-handed wrist shot past Giguere at 9:32 from Laaksonen and Bouillon. Boyle scored his first of the game less than 10 seconds later on the same powerplay at 9:39 from Richards to retake the lead. Minnesota fought back again to cap a busy first period with a goal from Mikael Samuelsson at 16:16 from Nordstrom and Rasmussen.
The second period was a lot quieter than the first. The Flames retook the lead for good with a goal from Boyle, his second of the night, at 19:11 from Regehr and Iginla.
Boyle scored again to get the hat-trick early in the 3rd to double the lead with a powerplay goal at 3:11 from Cammalleri and Iginla. The score stayed at 4-2 for much of the 3rd until Bouillon brought the Wild to within 1 with a shorthanded goal at 17:43 from Hentunen and Nordstrom.
The Flames outshot the Wild 50 to 20 and went 2 for 6 on the powerplay, though they did concede 2 shorthanded goals. The Wild's powerplay went 1 for 5.
The 2nd place Flames continue their road-trip by visiting the Blues on March 23rd. Minnesota, who sit 13th in the conference, head to Dallas tonight to face the Stars tomorrow night in a quick turnaround.