What makes 2006 Vezina-winner Miikka Kiprusoff such an outstanding goaltender is not his size or positioning between the pipes, but rather his control and poise in pressure situations. His ability to see and smother pucks, react around traffic, and handle rebounds is what puts the Flames' backstop among the NHL's elite.
Kiprusoff's stellar goal-tending (32 for 33) combined with Calgary's intense, physical play, allowed the Flames to steal a game in which his teammates were outplayed with the puck - a concept that we are extremely familiar with in New York by the heroics of Henrik Lundqvist. However it was Steve Valiquette (now 2-2-0) who played tonight, his second straight, that put up an admirable performance - although the first goal I think he should have stopped. Nevertheless, you cannot expect to win a game with one goal, as noted by Jaromir Jagr sited in the post-game reaction of last year's playoff elimination, 'Baseball Season.'*
* GO YANKEES!! WORLD SERIES BABY!!!
When I use the words 'intense, physical play' above, I am thinking of the starting 50 seconds into the game when Curtis Glencross concussed Chris Drury with an illegal shoulder-to-head blindsided hit away from the puck. Expect him gone for at least 2 weeks. Brandon Dubinsky's right arm was also apparently fractured, resulting from blocking the slap-shot of Dion Phaneuf, count him out for 2-3 as well.
There were some moments where this game could have gone either way, and I would consider this their 2nd best effort thus far behind the previous outing in Edmonton.
* Former Ranger Nigel Dawes assisted on all 3 goals scored against the Rangers.
* Dan Girardi scored a goal (now 4-4-8) and blocked 7 shots.
* The Rangers are now 10-7-1 (4-5-1 on the road, 6-2-0 at home).
* Donald Brashear sat again, missing his 8th game where he could of been valuable.
With Chris Drury and Brandon Dubinsky immediately out of the line-up, we may see huge opportunities for Artem Anisimov and Brian Boyle and perhaps a look at some Hartford Wolfpack players. With less then $0.7 in available cap-space, the Rangers will be heavily-reliant on their prospects.
Luckily, the Rangers have the two top scoring AHL players in center Corey Locke (9-12-21 in 14 games) and right winger PA Parenteau (9-10-19 in 12 games). It will be interesting to see what happens next.
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