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Entries with the tag: miikka+kiprusoff

Misleading Stats

by Paul on 10/23/09 at 10:49 AM ET
Comments (2)

from Randy Sportak of the Calgary Sun,

Talk about numbers not telling the story.

Yes, it’s true Kiprusoff has only once surrendered two or fewer goals this season. Curiously, it was in a 2-1 defeat.

Yes, he has a goals-against average of 3.23 and a .902 save percentage.

Those are facts.

But to say he’s been struggling is dead wrong.

Through the first 10-game segment of the season, which concludes with tomorrow night’s clash against the Edmonton Oilers, Kiprusoff has been the club’s MVP.

read on

Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Miikka+Kiprusoff,

Calgary Flames Media Day

by Alanah McGinley on 04/29/09 at 04:43 PM ET
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Al Cameron of the Flames Insider at the Calgary Herald, from Mike Keenan’s press conference:

Also interesting was Keenan’s somewhat condescending point (or maybe I’m just a little over-sensitive) that, yes, he’s been a member of the media in the past, and yes, he knows the pressures we’re under from higher-ups (yes, you editors know who you are!) to draw conclusions and pass judgement on hockey matters, but maybe, just maybe, we don’t know the full story in all cases..

A bit more from Keenan about this year’s playoffs here, mentioning that he plans to be behind the bench next season, and a few other points.

And what did Miikka Kiprusoff have to say today? Another posting from Cameron:

Hey, whaddya know? Miikka Kiprusoff, for the second straight year, has elected to blow off the media and, by extension, blow off the fans of the Calgary Flames by not speaking on garbage bag day.
Yes, I know his job is to stop pucks for the Calgary Flames, not speak to the media, but at some point he’s got to say something to the people who pay a good chunk of his salary by buying tickets to see him play.
No such luck this year. Thanks for nothing, Miikka . . .

Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: miikka+kiprusoff, mike+keenan,

Kiprusoff Is The Key

by Paul on 04/16/09 at 10:04 AM ET
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from Steve MacFarlane of the Calgary Sun,

Miikka Kiprusoff has to make a difference.

He needs to be the difference.

Incapable of shutting down the Chicago Blackhawks offence in the regular season, the Calgary Flames defence has an even bigger hole that could be exposed with Robyn Regehr out of the lineup a couple more weeks.

Even Regehr had trouble containing some of the speedy Hawks forwards as the Flames dropped all four games to the up-and-coming Original Six squad that has given new life to the Windy City this winter.

That means Kiprusoff can expect to be tested.

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Miikka+Kiprusoff,

You Have To Bury Those Kyle

by Paul on 02/18/09 at 08:24 AM ET
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from Scott Cruickshank at Flames Insider,

After stunning saves on RW Steve Bernier (left pad) and C Mats Sundin (glove), Kiprusoff had needed to lunge to his right when puck squirted over to Wellwood. The shot, seemingly into an empty net, was batted away by the back of the Flames netminder’s paddle.

Great save, right?

“Kyle got what he deserves,” said Vigneault. “I mean, he is not bearing down and had an open net. He’s shooting the puck two miles an hour. You have to bear down, you have to put your full weight into it, you have to shoot it. He might have been standing there a little bit. Obviously, it looked like the goalie made a big save, but the player didn’t have a great attempt there.”

read on and watch the save below…

Continue Reading »

Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Kyle+Wellwood, Miikka+Kiprusoff,

Considering Kiprusoff For The Vezina

by Paul on 02/01/09 at 12:50 PM ET
Comments (4)

from Randy Sportak of the Calgary Sun,

For some reason, Kiprusoff is not getting his due around the league for the Flames fortunes.

The critics, especially those who don’t watch the unflappable Finn mind the twine for Calgary night after night, are quick to point out his higher-than-expected goals-against average (2.76, tied for 25th best in the league prior to yesterday’s action) and lower-than-usual save percentage (.905, good for 27th place).

Despite a league-leading 30 wins—which gives him a shot at becoming the first goalie in NHL history to reach 50 in a season—Kiprusoff’s success is pinned on playing for an upper echelon team nearly every game.

The argument may be valid, but Kiprusoff warrants more respect than he’s receiving.

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Miikka+Kiprusoff,

Kiprusoff On Pace For 50 Wins

by Paul on 01/13/09 at 07:55 AM ET
Comments (1)

from Steve MacFarlane of the Calgary Sun,

Appearing in all but two of the Flames’ first 41 contests, Kiprusoff has already racked up 25 victories. No goaltender has ever won 50 in a single season.

Kicking off that quest tonight with the St. Louis Blues visiting the Saddledome Kiprusoff is well-rested after four days between games.

“It was a good break,” said the 32-year-old Finn. “To have some time with your family, it’s always good.

“But when you’re used to going every day so hard, it’s tough to come back. Even after a couple of days off, it feels weird. You have to really concentrate to get your mind back into the game.”

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Miikka+Kiprusoff,

Comparing Kiprusoff and Toskala

by Alanah McGinley on 11/10/08 at 02:02 PM ET
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From Eric Duhatschek at the Globe & Mail,

It figures to be an interesting goaltending match-up Tuesday night when the Toronto Maple Leafs open their western Canadian trip in Calgary to play the Flames. Not only do the Flames’ Miikka Kiprusoff and the Leafs’ Vesa Toskala both hail from Finland, they were both groomed in the San Jose Sharks’ organization and both traded away so that Evgeni Nabokov would be that organization’s clear-cut No. 1 netminder.

Kiprusoff and Toskala are considered among the NHL’s goaltending elite, but their numbers don’t reflect that at the moment…

continued...

Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: miikka+kiprusoff, vesa+toskala,

Hot Flame

by Paul on 10/31/08 at 12:46 PM ET
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from Randy Sportak of the Calgary Sun,

Kiprusoff, whose big contract and big early-season goals-against-average had all kinds of critics questioning his abilities, continues to be a key cog in the club’s winning spree.

While the offensive heroes keep changing, he continues to be the constant, shining between the pipes night after night.

During Calgary’s winning streak, Kiprusoff has posted a sparkling 1.40 goals-against-average and .952 save percentage.

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Miikka+Kiprusoff,

Kiprusoff Just Worried About Winning

by Paul on 10/23/08 at 10:58 AM ET
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from Vicki Hall of the Calgary Herald,

Too old, too slow, too nonchalant—the Flames goalie lets it all whistle by him like a rising slapshot over the net.

“I’m kind of used to it,” Kiprusoff said Wednesday as the Flames packed their bags for tonight’s game in Nashville against the Predators. “That’s how it is to be a player, a goalie in the NHL.

“First, you’re young and not experienced. Then, you’re old. It’s always something.”

And it’s something Kiprusoff chooses not to concern himself with.

“I have worries to be able to help this team win games here,” the Finn said. “And take care of my body and keep in good shape.”

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Miikka+Kiprusoff,

Did Keenan Do The Right Thing?

by Paul on 04/23/08 at 06:21 PM ET
Comments (3)

from Eric Francis at Best of Seven,

Several players were furious but couldn’t say anything for obvious reasons.

Team members watching from the press box also lost their minds.

Miikka Kiprusoff bit his tongue.

Even the San Jose Sharks players were so surprised by the minor league move, they side-stepped the controversy altogether.

One day after Mike Keenan scuttled any chance of a comeback in Game 7 by pulling Miikka Kiprusoff late in the second period of a 4-2 game, the debate rages on over Captain Hook’s panic move.

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Miikka+Kiprusoff,

Flames Need ‘Kipper’ Tonight

by Paul on 04/20/08 at 12:17 PM ET
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from Randy Sportak of the Calgary Sun,

Miikka Kiprusoff’s lucrative contract extension doesn’t kick in until next season.

The Calgary Flames could sure use an advance performance worthy of that salary.

As in tonight.

Or else this season is kaput.

Trailing three games to two, the Flames are down to their last life as they head into tonight’s Game 6 in their best-of-seven series with the San Jose Sharks.

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Miikka+Kiprusoff,

Flames Must Play Kiprusoff

by Paul on 04/14/08 at 01:03 PM ET
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from Eric Francis at Best of Seven,

First question I had for the coach after the game was who his starting goaltender would be Game 4.

“I thought you might ask to start a controversy,” was his opener.

“We’ll have to wait and see.”

Guess who is starting a controversy Mikey? You and only you.

If indeed there is a one in a million chance you’re actually thinking about starting Game 3 replacement Curtis Joseph instead of Miikka Kiprusoff I assure you you are the only one in North America who thinks it would be wise.
The correct answer would have been: Miikka.

Instead, you risk further infuriating one of the game’s premiere netminders who is the only reason the Flames have a shot at pulling off an upset over San Jose.

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Miikka+Kiprusoff,

Kipper Comes Through

by Paul on 01/19/08 at 11:20 AM ET
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from Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun,

Eleven minutes to go in a 6-1 game and the crowd was on its feet.

Not because of Daymond Langkow’s hat-trick minutes earlier or because the Flames turned in the type of beat-down fans have expected to see more of all year.

This time, it was for Miikka Kiprusoff.

Yep—the guy relegated to backup status if only in the sports pages as the collective hearts of the city were aflutter over the signing of Curtis Joseph this week.

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Miikka+Kiprusoff,

Do The Mind Games Start

by Paul on 01/17/08 at 04:45 PM ET
Comments (1)

from George Johnson at ESPN,

The joker in the deck, however, is how incumbent Miikka Kiprusoff, the silent Finn, will react to the support (threat?) posed by a goalie who, although 40 and well past his peak, has still won 446 regular-season NHL games and himself been feted as a Vezina Trophy finalist.

The Flames can argue until they’re blue in the face that Joseph’s arrival means a fresher, more motivated Kipper, that he will embrace the competition and chance to swap stories and secrets with a fellow lodge brother.

Nobody’s trying to turn this into a goaltending controversy, but Kiprusoff could easily interpret the signing as a lack of faith, a kind of betrayal.

read on

Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Curtis+Joseph, Miikka+Kiprusoff,

Keenan Vs. Kipper

by Paul on 12/28/07 at 09:13 PM ET
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from George Johnson of the Calgary Herald via the National Post,

...All is not daisies and buttercups between Iron Mike and the none-too-chipper Kipper.

The strain, hinted at on a few occasions already as the the halfway point of the NHL season approaches, is showing.

Keenan obviously wants more, and more consistently, from this franchise’s meal-ticket goaltender, who has, it must be said, been sub-par by his own towering standards for much of this season. Kiprusoff, just as obviously, isn’t over the moon about playing monkey to Keenan’s organ grinder - Pinocchio puppet to Iron Mike’s wicked Stromboli.

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Miikka+Kiprusoff, Mike+Keenan,

Kiprusoff is a Funny Guy

by Paul on 11/03/07 at 10:48 PM ET
Comments (0)

from the Calgary Herald,

To the ticket-buying public, he’s the saviour. The biggest reason why the Calgary Flames can stake a legitimate (some days more than others) claim to being a Stanley Cup contender.

But behind the mask? Under all those pads? Who is he?

Well, he’s a funny guy. Really. Teammates say so. Coaches say so…

“Miikka,” begins Sportsnet interviewer Jamie Thomas, following Kiprusoff’s brilliant performance against Nashville on Tuesday night, “when we talked in training camp, you said you didn’t want to talk about your contract until it was done. Now that it is, what can you say?”

“Well,” deadpans Kiprusoff, “now that it’s done, I don’t want to talk about it.”.

read on

Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: calgary+flames, goalies, Miikka+Kiprusoff,

Kiprusoff Will Sign Extension With Flames

by Alanah McGinley on 10/29/07 at 06:25 PM ET
Comments (0)

From TSN,

The Calgary Flames have called a news conference tonight and sources tell TSN it is to announce a long-term contract extension for Calgary netminder Miikka Kiprusoff.

Sources add that the deal is worth approximately $35 million for six years, or an average annual cap hit for the Flames of about $5.8 million per year beyond this season.

continued...

Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: calgary+flames, goalies, Miikka+Kiprusoff,

Flames Talking Contract Extension With Kiprusoff

by Paul on 10/18/07 at 10:34 AM ET
Comments (0)

from the Calgary Herald,

While GM Darryl Sutter was critical of the recent play of his goalie on Wednesday, the Flames still see him as a linchpin in the lineup. And despite the jibes of Sutter and coach Mike Keenan about a slow start, Kiprusoff continues to be bullish on Calgary. (It’s just one Kumbaya short of a love-in.)

As for anything imminent to announce from said discussions, however . . . do not hold your breath. Kiprusoff remains firm about being paid like the top goalie in the NHL-- that would be in the $6.75-million US range being enjoyed by Roberto Luongo in Vancouver. And he’s looking for recognition that he’s equally as important to the Flames as is captain Jarome Iginla. He of the five-year, $7-million-per-year payday.

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: calgary+flames, goalies, Miikka+Kiprusoff,

Keenan Comes Down On Kiprusoff

by Paul on 10/11/07 at 08:18 PM ET
Comments (3)

from the Calgary Herald,

After a Thursday afternoon’s practice in Dallas, Keenan managed to smack both his goalie and his struggling team by offering this assessment of the Detroit contest: “You most likely aren’t going to win any road game putting 20 shots on the net unless your goaltender is spectacular. And our goaltender wasn’t spectacular."…

“It’s not our responsibility to get them going,” he said. “It’s their responsibility. Jarome (Iginla) did a lot of work in the off-season to get ready and now he’s got to get his game together. And Kiprusoff, if he has notorious slow starts, that’s his responsibility to contribute to the team as he should be able to on consistent basis once the season does start. So he’s going to have to figure out what he’s going to have to do to make some improvements quickly.”

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: calgary+flames, goalies, Miikka+Kiprusoff,

Kiprusoff Wants To Stay With Calgary

by Paul on 09/14/07 at 06:49 AM ET
Comments (0)

from the Calgary Sun,

Miikka Kiprusoff has a message for Calgary Flames fans.

His top priority is to re-sign with the club.

Rumours may be swirling the star netminder wants to bolt the Stampede City in favour of a warmer locale or one with less scrutiny, but Kiprusoff said his No.-1 priority is to ink a pact with the Flames.

“That’s my first option, for sure,” he said after going through the paces of fitness testing yesterday at the Saddledome as training camp opened. “I’d love to stay here.”

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Miikka+Kiprusoff,