Flames 4 - 1 Canadiens
Final
  for this game

Bourque scores twice as Flames down Habs

Oct 14, 2011 - 3:52 AM Montreal, QC (Sports Network) - Rene Bourque scored a pair of goals, as the Calgary Flames defeated the Montreal Canadiens, 4-1.

Niklas Hagman and David Moss also scored, while Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 35 shots for the Flames, who avoided their first 0-3 start since the 2007-08 season.

"We started off 0-2," said Bourque. "We didn't play well in the first two games. We had a full effort from everybody tonight and that's why we won."

Kiprusoff became the franchise leader in wins, at 263.

Andrei Kostitsyn had the lone goal for the Canadiens, who got just 17 saves from Carey Price in their home-opener.

Montreal took a 1-0 lead early in the first period. Taking advantage of a 2- on-1 breakaway, Kostitsyn caught Max Pacioretty's rebound off the boards and drove home a wrist shot.

The Canadiens, missing forward Mike Cammalleri and defenseman Yannick Weber, were unable to hold the advantage, as the Flames reeled off four unanswered goals before the second intermission.

"We have to be better," said Canadiens center Tomas Plekanec. "Our power play has to be better with cycling and putting the puck on the net...just basic things we have to improve upon in future games."

Bourque's quick wrist shot over Price's left shoulder hit the back of the net for a power-play goal and a 1-1 tie later in the first.

Minutes later, another power-play goal -- this time on Hagman's point-blank wrist shot -- put the Flames on top 2-1.

Late in the first, Moss victimized the Canadiens' poor transition defense, blowing through the zone and receiving the puck from Alex Tanguay in front of the net for an easy goal and a 3-1 lead.

The Flames had been outscored by a total of 10-3 over the second and third periods of its two losses this season. This time they closed strong.

Bourque capped the scoring with a wrister late in the second period and Kiprusoff held the Canadiens off the board for his milestone win.

Game Notes

This was the first of two meetings between the Flames and Canadiens this season. Last year, the teams split the season series 1-1...Price is one win shy of 100 for his career.






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