Here's how well things are going for the Calgary Flames: Their starting goaltender left in the first minute of Saturday's game, and his replacement was lights out.
We'll see how long Karri Ramo is out with a dreaded lower-body injury. For now, the job of tending goal for the Flames in the NHL season's final week belongs to Jonas Hiller.
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“What a clutch performance,” coach Bob Hartley told The Calgary Herald after the game. “As soon as he got in, he made three, four big saves in a row. I think that’s the turning point of the game right there. Even though it was real early, Hills came out and was real strong for us.”
Ramo's injury, according to The Calgary Sun, was to his left leg.
Hartley offered little on Ramo except the requisite day-to-day, but the Flames on Sunday recalled Brad Thiessen from their AHL Adirondack affiliate.
Which means it's Hiller or bust.
There's a funny part to the Herald's story on Ramo's injury. It involves a frantic collegian's mad dash to Edmonton's Rexall to serve as an emergency goalie in case Hiller couldn't continue.
Ryan Demharter, according to The Herald's Scott Cruickshank, left a date with his girlfriend. Sorry, honey, the NHL needs me.
What's not so funny — Thiessen is the Flames' only healthy alternative. Demharter might want to drive to Calgary just in case. What the heck, bring the sweetheart along.
The Flames are of until Tuesday, when they face the Coyotes at home. Thursday brings the Kings to town, and they finish Saturday at Winnipeg.
The Flames entered Sunday holding third place in the Pacific Division, but the Kings were one point behind them with four games to play. The Jets have 92 points, like the Kings. Any slip now and the Flames could put away their sticks and pick up their golf clubs.
Those 59 minutes of shutout hockey by Hiller were big. Victories in all three of the Flames' remaining games will be even bigger.