NHL Playoffs : Flames Put Out the Fire

Just as the St. Louis Blues appeared on the verge of getting back in the game, Doug Risebrough intervened.

Risebrough scored a short-handed goal during the second period Tuesday night, sparking the Calgary Flames to a 5-3 victory over the Blues for a 2-1 lead in their Stanley Cup semifinal series.

Game 4 of the best-of-seven Campbell Conference final is Thursday night at St. Louis. The Flames are 5-1 on the road in the playoffs--tops in the league.

Game 4 of the Wales Conference final between the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers is tonight at New York.

With Calgary leading by one, 3-2, in Tuesday night’s game, Risebrough scored from inside the right circle at 14:40 of the second period to make it 4-2. Haken Loob assisted on the 2-on-1 break.

“The short-handed goal was the key,” Calgary Coach Bob Johnson “It took away momentum from them and gave us a two-goal lead.”

St. Louis defenseman Rob Ramage said he never saw Risebrough.

“I thought it was a 1-on-1,” Ramage said. “I never saw Risebrough. (St. Louis goalie Greg) Millen challenged the shooter like he was supposed to but Loob made a perfect pass.”

Before scoring his big goal, Risebrough, who had a hat trick Sunday, took down defenseman Lee Norwood at the Blues’ goal. The skate of St. Louis goalie Greg Millen hit Norwood, who suffered a thigh contusion and left the game on a stretcher. The Flames’ Paul Baxter then was whistled for holding and it appeared St. Louis had the momentum. But Risebrough’s goal quieted St. Louis.

St. Louis cut it to 4-3 on a third-period power play, as rookie Brian Benning scored his first NHL goal at 12:29 from the point. But Calgary’s Colin Patterson scored into an empty net with 59 seconds remaining to make it 5-3.