Flames Burn Predators

Whatever playoff hopes the Calgary Flames have are alive because of Fred Brathwaite.

Brathwaite stopped 26 shots Saturday night, including 10 of 11 in the third period, as the Flames beat the Nashville Predators 2-1 to climb within five points of the final Western Conference playoff spot with six games left.

"We're plugging away right now," Brathwaite said. "We're not going to give up hope. There's always a chance."

Despite the absence of injured key players, including forward Jarome Iginla and defenseman Phil Housley, Calgary wrapped up a 2-1-1 road trip after losing seven straight games.

Rookies Jeff Cowan and Sergei Varlamov scored first-period goals to give the Flames just their second victory in 10 games. Calgary had 14 players in its lineup under the age of 25.

Nashville dropped its third straight and is only 13-22-3 at home.

Cowan put the rebound of Derek Morris's shot from the point by Nashville goalie Mike Dunham, 7:15 into the first period. The first shot fell at Dunham's feet and Cowan poked it home.

Varlamov, recalled Friday on an emergency basis from Saint John of the AHL, made it 2-0 at 12:59 of the first. Afer Sergei Krivokrasov drew Dunham to the right side of the goal, he spotted Varlamov all alone at the left post. It was Varlamov's first NHL goal.

Krivokrasov, an original member of the Predators, was traded to Calgary March 14. He spent much of this week criticizing Nashville's management and was booed every time he touched the puck.

Krivokrasov, who led the Predators in goals last season with 25, had just nine in 63 games this season and was often a healthy scratch. He has five assists in six games with the Flames after getting only 17 in 63 games with the Predators.

"It's better than nothing," he said. "It's a good feeling."

Karlis Skrastins made it 2-1 at 4:42 of the third, rifling a backhander from the slot past Brathwaite.

Calgary's Valeri Bure became part of an NHL record when older brother Pavel scored two goals for the Florida Panthers against Montreal. Pavel's league-leading 54 goals combined with Valeri's 35 broke the record of 88 set by Chicago teammates Bobby and Dennis Hull in the 1968-69 season.

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