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  Sunday, Dec. 12 8:00pm ET
Healthy Thibault can't put out Flames
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

CHICAGO (AP) -- Any goal would feel special for Jason Wiemer. A game-winner was that much better.

Wiemer scored on a 50-foot slap shot with 1:36 left in regulation to snap a tie and lift the Calgary Flames to a 2-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night.

Valeri Bure
Calgary's Valeri Bure burns Chicago goalie Jocelyn Thibault for the first goal of the game on Sunday.
"Anytime you score a goal like that it's a great feeling," said Wiemer, who has just two goals this season. "I just wanted to get it on net and see what happens ... and it went in."

Wiemer's shot deflected off defenseman Anders Eriksson and off the glove of Chicago goaltender Jocelyn Thibault, who was making his first appearance since breaking his ring finger on Nov. 27.

"It hit Anders' shin pads and went through a few pairs of legs," Thibault said. "I lost it. I wish I could have made that save, but it didn't happen."

Valeri Bure had a second-period power-play goal for the Flames, who got a 20-save effort from goaltender Fred Brathwaite.

The victory enabled Calgary to extend its unbeaten streak to three games (2-0-1). The Flames are 4-1-1 in their last six contests with the lone loss coming in overtime.

Chicago's Steve Sullivan scored a power-play goal on a rebound with 4:54 remaining in regulation to tie the game and spoil Brathwaite's bid for second shutout this season. The Blackhawks have lost three straight.

"It wasn't just Freddy tonight, it was the whole team," Calgary coach Brian Sutter said.

Thibault stopped 29 shots in his first game since being injured on a slap shot by St. Louis' Al MacInnis.

"I felt pretty good even though my finger was taped up and got a little numb," Thibault said. "The second goal, it trickled in. I wish I could have made that save after the game I had."

The Blackhawks have been held to just two goals over their last three games. They lost 2-1 at Buffalo on Friday and 4-0 to New Jersey on Thursday.

After a scoreless first period Sunday, Bure made it 1-0 by converting a rebound of Derek Morris' shot during a Calgary power play with 3:27 left in the second.

Thibault made a pad save on Morris' low shot from the left point. However, Bure, at the edge of the crease, lofted the loose puck over the sprawled Chicago goaltender.

Sullivan tied the game with 4:54 left in the third. From the low edge of the left circle, he ripped in a rebound of Alex Zhamnov's drive from the blue line.

Wiemer netted the game winner with 1:36 left when he wound up from just inside the blue line on right wing.

Earlier Sunday, the Blackhawks named Mike Smith the team's manager of hockey operations. Although Bob Pulford retains the titles of general manager and head coach, Smith will oversee the Blackhawks' player personnel moves and development.

 


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Blackhawks tab Smith to run hockey operations


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