DALLAS 3 CALGARY 1

Flames Line Combinations Cammalleri-Lombardi-Iginla Bertuzzi-Langkow-Moss Glencross-Conroy-Bourque Nystrom-Primeau-Prust Defence Pairings: Regehr-Aucoin Sarich-Pardy Giordano-Phaneuf Goalies Kiprusoff (S)  McElhinney Flames Depth Chart

GAME CAPSULE
The Calgary Flames fired 37 shots at Marty Turco in the Dallas net. Only one got by him and that was the difference in this game.

That and the fact that the Stars played a strong, patient defensive road game to snap the Flames three-game win streak.

"In the first period we had too many turnovers," said forward David Moss. "I think as the game went on we tried to get more pucks deep. We just couldn't find the second goal when we wanted it tonight. We have to have a better start and play for 60 minutes."

First Period
The Stars draw first blood when Toby Peterson corrals a big rebound in the slot and fires home a wrister at 6:14. The initial shot and Peterson's goal, his second of the season, were the first two shots on net. The Flames would outshoot the Stars 9-5 but goalie Marty Turco is there to shut the door and preserve the visitor's lead.

Second Period
The Flames evened the score when David Moss, battling for position in front of the Dallas net, sent a rebound underneath Turco at 1:44, tying the game 1-1. The lead, however, wouldn't last. The Flames got a little careless and let Fabian Brunnstrom split the defence and gain a partial breakaway. Miikka Kiprusoff made the initial save but Brunnstrom used his reach to backhand in the rebound and give the Stars a 2-1 lead.

Third Period
The Stars go into full protect mode, setting up a wall in the neutral zone to try and nullify any form of Flames comeback. Adrian Aucoin hits a post early in the third period. The Flames then kill off a double-minor to Matthew Lombardi for high-sticking and apply pressure. But Marty Turco holds the fort for Dallas until Loui Eriksson puts the game away with an empty net tally.

AVERY SUSPENDED: Sean Avery didn't get a chance to put his feet on the ice. Instead he planted them firmly in his own mouth following the Dallas Stars morning skate in Calgary and found himself on the wrong side of the National Hockey League, which suspended him just hours prior to the Stars game against the Calgary Flames.

"Avery has been suspended indefinitely, pending a hearing with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, in accordance with the provisions of NHL By-Law 17 and Article 6 of the NHL Constitution for conduct "detrimental to the League or game of hockey," the National Hockey League announced. "The suspension was imposed following inappropriate public comments about the personal lives of opposing players, and not pertaining to the game, made by Avery earlier today."

The date for the hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Avery's comments were directed at the personal life of NHL players who are, or have, dated the same girls as Avery.

Earlier this season Avery had made comments about Flames captain Jarome Iginla. "Nobody cares about Jarome Iginla and guys like that," Avery told ESPN. "They're just not exciting enough. They don't bring enough to the game."

Those comments had media in Calgary curious about what would happen when the Stars came to town for their visit of the season. Flames players, including Iginla and Phaneuf, shrugged off Avery's mouthings. "I'm not worried about what he says," Iginla told reporters a day before the game. "He's always talking on the ice and he says a lot off the ice. That's his way. Whatever he says, fine with me."

However, it would appear Avery crossed the line Tuesday with his comments. The Stars team owner, Thomas Hicks, released a statement saying he supported the suspension.

"I completely support the league's decision to suspend Sean Avery,” said Hicks. “Had the league not have suspended him, the Dallas Stars would have. This organization will not tolerate such behavior, especially from a member of our hockey team. We hold our team to a higher standard and will continue to do so.”

Following the game, Flames players agreed. "I think they made the right move. I don't think that (type of comment) should be tolerated," said Iginla. Craig Conroy, a former teammate of Avery's in Los Angeles said: "That's where Aves just tried to get smart. It backfired. Sometimes you have to keep your mouth shut."

THE ROSTER: F Dustin Boyd (upper body); D James Vandermeer (broken leg) and D Rhett Warrener (shoulder surgery) are injured. The lone healthy scratch was F Andre Roy.

EARLY CHRISTMAS GIFT: The Calgary Flames announced today that they would direct $93,124 to Special Olympics Calgary through the NHLPA’s Dreams and Goals Fund and the Flames Foundation for Life from the last two years of Danone SuperSkills events. Curtis Glencross will be participating in a floor hockey game with Special Olympics athletes tomorrow evening and making this presentation to the organization before the game.
Glencross is the official player ambassador for Special Olympics and has also donated his winnings from his Molson Cup runner up award for the month of November to Special Olympics.
 Special Olympics Calgary’s mission is to enrich the lives of individuals with an intellectual disability through sport. The Calgary organization offers 32 individual programs in 17 sports year round to athletes of all ages and abilities. Funds directed to Special Olympics are directed to funding programs for their athletes.