Flames shut out Canadiens in outdoor game

CALGARY, Alberta — A lot of shots and a lack of hitting made for classic pond hockey in the Heritage Classic outdoor game, and that suited Miikka Kiprusoff just fine.

Kiprusoff made 39 saves for his fourth shutout this season, and the Flames beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-0 Sunday on a cold, clear night at McMahon Stadium.

The temperature was about 16 degrees at the start of the game, with winds of 16 mph making it feel like less than 2 degrees. The cold didn’t slow down Kiprusoff, who decided not to wear the neoprene wetsuit he tried out during Saturday’s practice because it felt too hot, but he did put on extra clothes during the game.

“The first period was pretty windy,” the Flames’ goalie said. “I had to add something after the first period, put more clothes on, but we had a lot of good stuff here to use. The last two periods, the second and third I felt all right.”

Rene Bourque scored twice, Anton Babchuk had a short-handed goal, and Alex Tanguay also scored for the Flames, who became just the second home team to win in the NHL’s six outdoor games.

“I think it’s right up there with playing your first game, scoring your first goal, things like that,” Bourque said of the experience of playing outside. “It’s just fun to be part of this and playing in front of these people, especially when you’re sitting on the bench and you’re looking out and seeing 40,000 people.”

The win moved the Flames past four teams into a tie with Nashville for fifth place in the Western Conference, as 10 points separate third place and 12th. Calgary has earned at least a point in 18 of its last 20 games.

Carey Price finished with 33 saves for Montreal, which dropped to 1-2-2 in its last five games.

Price said he wasn’t cold but said the ice conditions changed from the previous day.

“I thought the ice was a lot harder and a lot bumpier,” he said.