Kiprusoff shuts out Senators as Flames extend run

CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) - Miikka Kiprusoff made 33 saves to lead the in-form Calgary Flames to a 2-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday.

Kiprusoff recorded his 30th win of the season for the fifth consecutive year and team mates Jamal Mayers and Christopher Higgins scored a goal each to give the Flames their fourth straight victory.

Ottawa fired 17 shots at Kiprusoff in the third but could not break through as the netminder recorded his fourth shutout of the season and 34th of his career.

"They (Ottawa) carried the play most of the night and had, I think, the better of the chances," Higgins told reporters.

Calgary displayed strong defense in front of Kiprusoff throughout with Mark Giordano claiming six blocks and Cory Sarich finishing with five.

With the win, Calgary (34-24-9) moved into a tie for seventh place in the Western Conference with the Nashville Predators.

"It feels good, Mayers said. "I feel like our line can chip in. It might not be every night, but we're going (to) get a lot of opportunities."

Mayers opened the scoring at 5:29 in the first with a wrister, his first goal for the Flames since joining on January 31 from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

After both teams went scoreless in the second the Flames added the clincher with Higgins' slap shot at 9:05 in the third.

It was a fourth loss in five games for the Senators (37-26-5) for whom goaltender Brian Elliot made 23 saves.

(Reporting by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles, editing by Patrick Johnston)