The goals-against average is coming down for the Flames. That's what happens when you allow only four goals in three games.

Still, it's not quite a product of being a solid defensive team. Thanks to great performances by their goaltenders -- Curtis McElhinney in a 3-2 victory in Dallas and Miikka Kiprusoff in a 2-1 win over St. Louis and 3-1 victory over the Rangers -- the Flames are looking better in the goals-against ledger.

But they still have a big job to do to end up where they want to be. The number of scoring chances allowed remains way too high. As does the number of shots allowed.

With a three-game road trip on the schedule beginning Tuesday in Montreal, the Flames must continue clamping down on the opposition. That means fewer shots allowed, fewer foolish penalties and a better job of controlling the puck in both the neutral and offensive zones.

When Kiprusoff is on his game, he's as good as any netminder in the league. It's a luxury few teams can brag about having. However, unless his teammates build on these baby steps in their defensive game, the success and low-scoring games will come to an end.

FLAMES 3, RANGERS 1: Nigel Dawes made the most of his first game against the team that brought him to the NHL. Dawes, originally drafted by the Rangers but traded away late last season, set up all three Calgary goals. The prettiest helper came on Jarome Iginla's game-winning power play tally, when Dawes drove down the wing all the way to the corner and fed a perfect pass to the captain, who was alone in the slot.

Rene Bourque and Daymond Langkow also scored for the Flames, who received brilliant netminding from Miikka Kiprusoff in a 32-save performance.

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