Three Stars

Calgary's Jamie lundmark, left, reacts after scoring the winning goal in the Flames' 4-3 shootout win over Columbus on Saturday night. daymond langkow offers a congratulatory pat.

Photograph by : Matt Sullivan, Reuters

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1. Calgary C Olli Jokinen: Continues his improved play. Collects two points, for 12 in the past 11 outings. Shootout conversion, too.

2. Columbus LW Rick Nash: With his sharp-angle ripper of a goal, captain wakes up hosts. Also cashes in during shootout.

3. Calgary LW Nigel Dawes: Rumbles around, four hits. Needs only one shot, however, to deadlock game. Shootout success, too.

why the flames won

Because, after a smelly (and potentially costly) second period, they rally smartly, tying the game in a burst.

Because, for whatever reason, they are deadly on the highway this season. Now 9-1-3. Good news with four stops remaining on this trip.

Because Jamie Lundmark, with a flair for the dramatic, is beginning to (re-)impress at the big-league level.

the big Save

Just minutes into the contest, Calgary C Olli Jokinen, peeking around the offensive zone, spies a net-bound RW Jarome Iginla and flings a perfect backhand pass to his pal. Iginla, having shedded the attention of D Jan Hejda, snaps a quick shot. But G Steve Mason, with a remarkable left-pad extension, foils the Flames captain.

the big Hits

Shortly after the Flames take a 1-0 lead, Calgary RW David Moss rushes into Columbus territory and splashes D Anton Stralman into the end boards.

Seconds later, linemate C Daymond Langkow crushes C Derick Brassard against the sideboards.

the big Fight

The Flames are the league's scrappiest outfit and Blue Jackets RW Jared Boll is formerly the league's busiest glove-dropper. But no taffy-pulls, despite Boll's second-period running of G Curtis McElhinney.

The rosters

CALGARY SCRATCHES: RW Brian McGrattan, D Cory Sarich (unspecified), LW Rene Bourque (unspecified). Man-games lost: 24

COLUMBUS SCRATCHES: D Kris Russell, LW Alexandre Picard, C Andrew Murray (shoulder), LW Fredrik Modin (knee), RW Derek Dorsett (head). Man-games lost: 82

Summary

First Period

No Scoring.

Penalties - None.

Second Period

1. Calgary, O Jokinen 5 (pp) (J Bouwmeester, J Iginla) 05:29.

2. Columbus, R Nash 15 (pp) (K Huselius, J Voracek) 13:20.

3. Columbus, M Methot 1 (K Huselius, M Commodore) 14:23.

4. Columbus, J Boll 3 (D Brassard, R Klesla) 19:32.

Penalties - R Nash Clb (high-sticking) 0:32; M Giordano Cgy (interference) 2:04; K Huselius Clb (tripping), 4:39; D Phaneuf Cgy (hooking) 12:14; J Boll Clb (goaltender interference) 17:24.

Third Period

5. Calgary, D Boyd 4 (O Jokinen, J Iginla) 14:13.

6. Calgary, N Dawes 7 (D Moss, D Langkow) 15:32.

Penalties - None.

Overtime

No Scoring.

Penalties - None.

Shootout

Calgary - Nigel Dawes (goal), Olli Jokinen (goal), Jarome Iginla (missed), Jamie Lundmark (goal).

Columbus - K Huselius (goal), R Nash (goal), F Tyutin (missed), A Stralman (missed).

Shots on goal by

Calgary 10 11 7 4 - 32

Columbus 5 14 10 3 - 32

Power plays (goals-chances) - Calgary: 1-3, Columbus: 1-2.

Goal (shots-saves) - Calgary, Curtis McElhinney (32-29, W, 2-1-0). Columbus, S Mason (32-29, L, 8-7-0).

Referees: Bill McCreary, Marc Joannette. Linesmen: Andy McElman, Derek Nansen.

Att. at Columbus, Ohio-17,772.

Next up

The Flames head to Music City to prepare for Monday's test (6 p.m., The FAN 960, Sportsnet) against the Nashville Predators.

Scott Cruickshank, Calgary Herald