Vancouver, BC (SportsNetwork.com) – Joni Ortio’s first start of the season was
a memorable one, as the 23-year-old netminder shut out the Vancouver Canucks
and carried the Calgary Flames to a 1-0 victory — the club’s first over its
Pacific Division rival in nearly two years.
Ortio was recalled from Adirondack of the AHL on Friday and gave Jonas Hiller
the night off. He was peppered with 36 shots and, with the help of the post on
several occasions, denied every one of them.
Mikael Backlund provided the game-winning goal on Calgary’s first shot.
The Flames, who came in 0-3-0 in the new year, had dropped nine straight
against the Canucks, their previous win coming on Mar. 3, 2013.
Eddie Lack saved all but one of the 23 shots he faced in the loss.
It took 5:38 for the Flames to record their first shot, but they made it
count. A turnover in the neutral zone resulted in a rush the other way, and
David Jones fed Backlund in front for his fourth goal of the season.
The Canucks had a goal disallowed with 4:29 remaining in the second when it
was ruled Henrik Sedin knocked the puck in with a high stick.
Vancouver, which did not have a power play the entire game, only recorded
eight shots in the third period after keeping Ortio busy with 28 over the
first two.
The best chance came in the final minute with Lack pulled, but Ortio secured a
loose puck in the crease just in time.
Game Notes
Ortio went 4-4-0 in nine games with Calgary late last season … Vancouver
went 2-3-0 on its five-game homestand … Flames defenseman Mark Giordano and
Canucks forward Radim Vrbata were both named to the All-Star Game on Saturday,
while Flames rookie forward Johnny Gaudreau was chosen to participate in the
skills competition.
