New York Rangers' John Moore, left, fights with Calgary Flames' Curtis Glencross during third period NHL pre-season hockey action in Calgary, Monday, Sept. 23, 2013. The Calgary Flames beat the New York Rangers 4-1. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
September 23, 2013 - 8:40 PM
CALGARY - Matt Stajan had a goal and two assists and Karri Ramo made 27 saves as the Calgary Flames won 4-1 over the New York Rangers on Monday night in NHL pre-season action.
On a night the Flames dressed several forwards, who are competing for a one or two open jobs, the best line on the ice on either team was made up of three veterans — Stajan between Curtis Glencross and Lee Stempniak.
Glencross finished with a goal, an assist and a fight. Defenceman Dennis Wideman added his fourth goal, tying him for the league lead. Scoring into an empty net for Calgary (4-2-0) was Lance Bouma.
Mark Staal had the lone goal for New York (1-2-0).
Leading 1-0 in the second, Wideman snuck into the slot uncovered, took Stajan's centring pass and rifled his fourth goal of the pre-season under the crossbar on Henrik Lundqvist.
That was the prettiest goal of the night until Stajan took Stempniak's pass and one-timed a shot inside the goalpost in the third.
Making his home ice debut for the Flames was Ramo, 27, who is the favourite to open the season as Calgary's starting goaltender after playing the past four years in the KHL.
After a quiet opening 20 minutes in which he was tested only six times, he turned aside 15 shots in the second period as the Rangers pressed to get back into the game.
It was the second straight strong outing for Ramo after his inauspicious debut Sept. 14 when he gave up four goals on 17 shots in a half-game against Edmonton.
Last Tuesday, the Finn made 21 saves in a win over the New York Islanders.
Lundqvist went the distance for the Rangers, finishing with 24 saves.
The Rangers line-up was led by Brad Richards and Rick Nash but both had a quiet night. Nash did hit a goal post in the first period but neither were much of a factor.
Notes: The Rangers began a stretch of four games in five days. ... Notable scratches for New York, who have 39 players in camp, included forwards Ryan Callahan, Derick Brassard and restricted free agent Derek Stepan, who is still holding out. Missing from the blue-line were Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi. ... Notable Flames absentees were Mike Cammalleri and Jiri Hudler, who are both injured, and Sven Baertschi... The Flames wrap up the pre-season Wednesday against Phoenix.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2013