Thursday, February 7, 2013
Flames without Kiprusoff (update)
By Victoria Matiash
UPDATE: The Calgary Flames have signed Danny Taylor as temporary backup to Leland Irving while Miikka Kiprusoff recuperates from a lower-body injury. Kiprusoff is considered day-to-day and doesn't expect to miss much time at all.
"I really believe that this is a short-term injury and over the next days I'll work toward being ready as soon as possible," the 36-year-old veteran said Wednesday. (Calgary Herald)
Look for Irving to start Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets; probably Saturday versus the Vancouver Canucks; and maybe even on the road Monday against the Minnesota Wild.
***
The Calgary Flames may have to manage without the services of their No. 1 netminder for a spell. Suffering from a reported lower-body injury, Miikka Kiprusoff sat out the third period of Tuesday's 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Which suggests backup Leland Irving will get the start Thursday versus the Columbus Blue Jackets. However, with Henrik Karlsson out of the mix, who will back up Irving?
If Kiprusoff's injury isn't too serious -- but serious enough that dressing Thursday isn't realistic -- Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun suggests the Flames could opt for the short-term, Band-aid solution offered by promoting a netminder from the AHL or WHL.
"... Barring a trade for a stop-gap solution, the obvious move GM Jay Feaster alluded to after trading Karlsson was to sign either Barry Brust or Danny Taylor, who have been sensational in Abbotsford ... Summoning an emergency call-up is another possibility if the injury is considered minor, making Edmonton Oil Kings goalie Laurent Brossoit a possibility to back up Irving in Columbus Thursday ..."
NHL experience wouldn't be a significant factor in choosing between either Brust (11 appearances/2006-07) or Taylor (one period/2007-08). And both minor-league journeymen have been really good this season. Meanwhile, the 19-year-old Brossoit was selected by the Flames in the sixth round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
