After a solid start to their seven-game road trip, the Flames hit a bit of a bump last night. Calgary seeks to rebound this evening in Ottawa as it battles the Senators at Scotiabank Place.
With the 2012 World Junior Championship taking place in Calgary and Edmonton, the Flames were forced out on the road for a season-high seven straight games. They won the first two segments of that swing in Vancouver and Columbus to run their overall win streak to a season-high four games, but were dealt a 3-1 setback last night by the New York Islanders.
Tim Jackman scored his first goal of the season 1:11 into the game, but the next three goals belonged to the Islanders. Brendan Morrison notched his 600th career point with an assist on Jackman's goal, while Miikka Kiprusoff made 31 saves.
"It wasn't at the level that we wanted to play at," Flames head coach Brent Sutter said. " I thought we made too many mistakes. It wasn't smart hockey and we weren't good enough to win this game."
Sutter could be without defenseman Derek Smith tonight after he left Thursday's game in the second period with a lower-body injury.
The Flames arrive in Ottawa to take on a Senators club that was routed at home on Tuesday by the Montreal Canadiens. Like Calgary, Ottawa got a quick goal from Zack Smith just 1:42 into the game, but Montreal potted the next five goals, a run that did not come to an end until the Sens' Jason Spezza scored with 6:49 to play in the second period.
Ottawa, which came into the game 3-0-1 over its previous four, failed to find the scoresheet again and was handed a 6-2 loss.
"They buried their chances, we didn't bury ours," Spezza said. "We knew they were going to be a hungry team coming in here struggling. It was disappointing to have a first period we had."
Craig Anderson allowed four goals on seven shots in the start for Ottawa. He was replaced two minutes into the second period by Alex Auld, who made 19 saves the rest of the way.
Anderson had a much better outing when the Senators visited the Flames on Nov. 15. Calgary had won three straight and eight of nine over Ottawa before Anderson made 38 saves in a 3-1 victory. Bobby Butler scored twice in the third period and Daniel Alfredsson also tallied for the Sens.
Kiprusoff posted 29 saves for the Flames, who have won three of their last four in Ottawa.
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