Thu Apr 10 01:53:27 2008

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Yelle, Flames hold on to down Sharks in playoff opener

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San Jose, CA (Sports Network) - Stephane Yelle scored twice and Miikka Kiprusoff turned in an inspired performance in goal as the Calgary Flames nipped the San Jose Sharks, 3-2, in the opener of their best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal series at HP Pavilion.

Kiprusoff stopped 37 shots for the seventh-seeded Flames, who won three of the four meetings between the teams during the regular season. Dion Phaneuf also tallied for Calgary, while Jarome Iginla added a pair of assists.

"I try not to worry too much about what's going on out there and I tried to do my job," Kiprusoff said. "Of course its nice to get off to a good start, but it doesn't make any difference for how I play."

Ryane Clowe scored both goals for the second-seeded Sharks, who will look to even up the series at home on Thursday in Game 2. Evgeni Nabokov, who won 46 games during the regular season, allowed three goals on 23 shots and took the loss.

Leading 2-1, Yelle's second goal of the night gave Calgary a two-goal cushion with 3:39 left in the second. Iginla powered into the zone on a breakaway, and after Nabokov kicked his shot away, Yelle stuffed the rebound into the net. Iginla crashed into the net and lifted it from its moorings, but it happened after the puck crossed the goal line.

"It feels good," Yelle said. " I hadn't scored in a long time in the regular season. To come in tonight and chip in, it feels good."

Kiprusoff continued to keep the Sharks at bay until the final minute of regulation.

With Nabokov pulled for an extra attacker, Brian Campbell dumped the puck behind the net for Joe Thornton, who hesitated, then fed the puck in front right to the stick of Clowe, who buried a shot past Kiprusoff with 57 seconds to play.

San Jose's offense continued to pressure Kiprusoff in the waning seconds, but the Calgary netminder held strong to keep the Sharks from tying the game.

"We only expect it to get harder every game and every game means more," Iginla said. "That's the way it is so we play in 20 hours and we're going to enjoy this for a couple of hours and then its preparation right back to business and come be ready to play."

The Flames emerged from the first period with a 2-1 lead after a frantic exchange in the opening six minutes.

Calgary picked up the lead just 2:47 into regulation. Yelle won an offensive zone faceoff and slipped the puck back to Robyn Regehr at the point for a shot that Yelle tipped between Nabokov's pads to light the lamp.

The Flames extended the lead to 2-0 just 2 1/2 minutes after, as Phaneuf lit the lamp on the power play. After controlling a draw to the left of Nabokov, Iginla blasted a shot from the left circle that Nabokov kicked away. But, Phaneuf charged in from the right point and slammed the puck into the net.

"It's tough to win a game when you spot them two right off the hop," Thornton said. "We had some good chances, we just didn't capitalize. We've got to do better tomorrow night."

The Sharks got a goal back just 49 seconds later, as Marleau cruised into the zone, lost control of the puck behind the net, but regained his handle and slid a pass in front to a wide-open Clowe, who rammed the puck home on San Jose's first shot of the game.

Game Notes

Calgary finished 1-for-3 on the power play, while San Jose failed to convert on both of their power plays...The Flames improved to 3-0 at HP Pavilion this season...San Jose entered the playoffs on a two-game losing streak, which followed a string of earning at least one point in 20 straight games...Calgary has not advanced past the first round of the playoffs since their loss to Tampa Bay in the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals.