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Big Win In LA

January 20, 2012, 12:58 PM ET [18 Comments]
Shaune Vetter
Calgary Flames Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Who's kidding who? The Flames have zero chance to win that game last night if Miikka Kiprusoff doesn't stand on his head and out-duel one of the top goalies in the league in Jonathan Quick. Sure, people in other markets will tell you that Miikka is washed up, that his numbers have been on the decline since '04 and that for all intents and purposes he's essentially over-rated...

They obviously don't watch the Flames very much.

It's true that there was a couple of seasons where Miikka didn't look like the type of player who could steal a game, let alone a series, like he was once able to do but that likely has just as much to do with the team's play in front of him as it does with anything he's done. He's always been near the top of the league when it comes to wins, but that's more a product of the number of games he plays that a true indication of his ability. After last night, his GAA of 2.35 sits a modest 22nd among NHL netminders and his save % of .919 puts him a pedestrian 25th (although the NHL stats do not account for a minimum number of games, so to be honest, the position is slightly skewed for effect).

So why do Flames fans keep insisting that he's an elite goalie?

The last two games as a body of work should tell anyone that the Finnish goalie can still elevate his game to a point where he can beat any team on any night assuming his club can help him out a little, and he gets some bounces as he did in San Jose. In the last two games, the Flames were able to get desperately needed points in two buildings they've had issues doing so, and that has allowed for the fans to maintain some semblance of hope that this team can actually make a push...

It's also good to see that ANGRY Jarome is back!

It's funny, and the numbers weren't very large when considered against the sample size, but when the article about the NHL's most over-rated players came out and Jarome found out he was on it, it certainly seemed to light a fire under his caboose. Since the publication he's looked a lot more like the pre-lockout Jarome than at any time since. He's really using his body, he's been as tenacious as a honey-badger, he's hitting everything in sight and he's driving the net and generating chances every opportunity he gets.

If Jarome can keep up this intensity and lead his team, the Flames might just have a chance to be a post-season club yet...

Have a great day!

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