Iginla Leads Flames Past Blues

Another big game from Jarome Iginla gave the Calgary Flames some breathing room in the playoff race.

Iginla had two goals and an assist, and scored the game-winner with 3:30 remaining in a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night. That spoiled the home debut of new St. Louis Coach Mike Kitchen, whose team led, 1-0, after two periods.

“This was a critical game, and we blew it,” center Keith Tkachuk said. “You have to move on, or else.”

The loss was the latest blow to the Blues’ chances of extending their playoff run of 24 consecutive seasons, the longest current streak in professional sports, and this defeat came against one of the teams they are pursuing.

The Blues are four points out of the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference and six behind the Flames, who ended a six-game losing streak against St. Louis.

The Flames are trying to make the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons. They’re tied for sixth with the Predators.

“It’s so tight in the Western Conference,” Mikka Kiprusoff said after making 28 saves. “It’s so close that pretty much every game is a playoff game for us.”

Toronto 3, Boston 2 -- Mats Sundin scored twice at Toronto to help the Maple Leafs move ahead of the Bruins atop the Northeast Division.

Sundin’s second goal gave Toronto a 3-2 lead with 6:44 left.

Alexei Ponikarovsky also scored for the Maple Leafs, who are tied with Ottawa and Philadelphia for first overall in the Eastern Conference with 84 points. Boston has 82.

Columbus 3, Carolina 0 -- Rick Nash scored just over a minute into the game at Raleigh, N.C., and Marc Denis earned his fourth shutout this season.

Nash’s unassisted goal tied the Blue Jackets’ season record of 34 goals, set last season by Geoff Sanderson.

New York Islanders 3, Pittsburgh 3 -- Marc Bergevin ended a 101-game streak without a goal and the Penguins twice rallied from two goals down at Pittsburgh to end their NHL record 14-game home losing streak.

Atlanta 4, New York Rangers 3 -- Patrik Stefan had three assists for the Thrashers at New York. Pasi Nurminen made 26 saves to improve to 5-0-1 in his last six starts against New York.

Florida 1, Washington 0 -- Roberto Luongo made 29 saves for his fourth shutout in seven games and Olli Jokinen scored at Washington.

Edmonton 5, Phoenix 4 -- Ryan Smyth had three points, including the winning goal 2:26 into overtime at Edmonton, Canada.