Kiprusoff and Phaneuf Look Like Old Selves
October 2, 2009 by Jeanne Dupuis
Filed under Calgary Flames, NHL, News
As a Calgary Flames fan, the first couple weeks are pretty brutal especially since for the last few seasons, Miikka Kiprusoff is downright painful to watch during the beginning of the season. Last night’s season opener against the Vancouver Canucks gave me hope that bringing Brent Sutter on as the new head coach is going to make a big difference – for the better.
image: TSN
The Flames in general were peppier and more aggressive than usual and Kipper was just part of their 5-3 victory. He stopped 39 of the 42 shots he faced including one save that really should have gone in. He managed to scramble back and put his stick out just in time to stop it and it really was a save that I wasn’t expecting him to make on opening night.
Then there’s Dion Phaneuf. He’s got a history with Coach Sutter and he was looking like his old grinding self after a terribly lackluster season in 2008-2009. He was hitting and taking shots and being the on-ice presence that he used to be and I was pretty excited by it.
I was surprised by Roberto Luongo’s lack of focus in net for the Canucks. He is human after all and I know it’s been a long summer but it was still surprising to see him so frazzled. You know, those long-term contracts can really be a curse…
