Flames Burn Red Wings

With Fred Brathwaite at his best, the Calgary Flames finally found a way to win in regulation.

Brathwaite made 28 saves as Calgary won for the first time in a non-overtime game this season, beating Detroit 3-1 on Friday night. The Flames are 6-12-2, with the previous victories all in overtime.

Brathwaite was especially sharp in the second period when the Red Wings outshot Calgary 14-7, yet fell behind 2-0 when Phil Housley scored in the final minute of the period.

Brathwaite was making his third straight start since returning from a two-game conditioning stint with the Saint John of the AHL. He lost his previous two starts, both 2-1 decisions.

"Being able to go down and play a couple of games than come back and play right away was ideal," Brathwaite said. "Playing a couple then coming back and sitting would have been pointless."

Brathwaite twice robbed Steve Yzerman in the second period as the star forward tried for his 600th goal and 1,500th point.

"He made a couple of real good saves on two consecutive power plays. We had four real good shots at a goal," Yzerman said. "He moves really well and gets to the puck quickly."

After being set up neatly by Brendan Shanahan earlier in the second period only to be foiled by Brathwaite, Yzerman had a similar chance from the side of the net midway through the period.

Yzerman picked up a rebound off the end oards and, as he went to jam it inside the near post, Brathwaite jabbed out his left pad to keep the score 1-0.

"I was lucky enough to get over and get a pad on it," Brathwaite said. "But a team like that, you can't give them too many of those kinds of opportunities or they're going to capitalize sooner or later."

The crowd of 15,358 started chanting "Freddie! Freddie!" midway through the third period, but the popular goalie had his shutout broken on Kozlov's goal at 11:57.

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