from Eric Duhatschek of the Glob and Mail,

...the stats line on Kiprusoff is so uncharacteristically grim – just a 3.43 goals-against average, an .857 save percentage and only three wins in 10 decisions. Kiprusoff’s save percentage leaves him ranked 72nd of the 79 goalies which have played a game in the league this year and is far off his historical standards. Kiprusoff had a slow start to the season and then, this past weekend, two grim outings in the Flames’ whirlwind trip through southern California.

Kiprusoff was the starter on Friday against Anaheim and was outplayed by the Ducks’ first-year goaltender, Viktor Fasth, in a 4-0 Calgary loss. It didn’t get any better 24 hours later either, as the Flames fell 6-2 to the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings. Kiprusoff gave up six goals on 22 shots and then got the hook from coach Bob Hartley in favour of Joey MacDonald, when it no longer mattered.

To a man, the Flames raced to the defence of their beleaguered goaltender in the aftermath of the twin losses. This is in keeping with the sports’ widely held ethic – that under no circumstances, do you ever put the defeat on your goaltender’s shoulders.

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