Iginla nets 3 in Boxing Day bout
26.12.06
Calgary pounds Canucks 7-3
Call it a late Christmas present, or a Boxing Day deal, but either way Jarome Iginla will take it. The Calgary Flames Captain led the way tonight over the Vancouver Canucks with 3 goals and 6 points.
"This is the new rivalry right now." Said Iginla. "We're fighting for the division, we played a rough series last year in the playoffs. We're neck and neck and it's only December."
The Flames opened the scoring with none other than Iginla at 15:07 of the first period from Demitra and Boyle. Brodziak doubled the lead later at 18:59 from Steen and Legwand for his 4th of the season.
The Second was a more back-and-forth affair as the Canucks got their feet moving. Daniel Sedin potted his 23rd of the season on the powerplay at 3:30 from brother Henrik to get the visitors within one. Demitra scored a powerplay goal of his own from Iginla and Boyle at 5:06. Iginla then scored his second of the night, on the powerplay, from Richards and Cammalleri at 8:21. Vancouver then fought to get back within one with two quick goals. Bertuzzi from Ohlund and Jovanovski at 12:16, and Jussi Jokinen from Bouwmeester and Aucoin at 14:05. But that's as close as Vancouver would get.
The Flames powerplay went to work in the 3rd to seal the game. Mike Cammalleri scored his 15th and 16th on two seperate powerplays at 9:11 and 12:07 from Richards and Iginla (2). Jarome then iced the game at 15:03 for his third of the night from Richards and Boyle.
Calgary outshot the Canucks 46 to 26. The Flames man-advantage went 4 for 8 whereas Vancouver's powerplay went a respectable 2 for 5.
With the win, Calgary has tied the season series at 2 wins apiece. Iginla, for his efforts, has scored 7 goals and 3 assists in the 4 games.
The two teams get to do it all over again tomorrow night in Vancouver, making this round one in a Holiday Season special.