Surprising Play
Quebec, Canada – Calgary goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff’s impressive play on his team’s road trip isn’t all that surprising. The play of right wing David Moss has been, however.
Kiprusoff looks to continue his stellar play on Wednesday night as the Flames seek their first road win against the Montreal Canadiens in nearly eight years.
Oddsmakers from Online Sportsbook Sportsbook.com have made the Canadiens –145 money line favorites for Tuesday’s game against the Flames. Current NHL Public Betting Information shows that 57% of more than 95 bets for this game have been placed on the Canadiens -145.
The Flames (16-10-1), tied with Vancouver for first place in the Northwest Division, have won five of their last six and seven of nine, including a 3-0 victory over the New York Rangers on Sunday.
Jarome Iginla, Moss and Rene Bourque all scored, while Kiprusoff made 31 saves for his 29th career shutout. Kiprusoff has started 12 consecutive games and 26 of Calgary’s 27 contests this season. He 5-1-0 with a 1.83 goals-against average in his last six games overall, and 0-2-0 with a 4.06 GAA in two career starts at Montreal.
"I like to play," he said. "I’m kind of used to it now and I know what I have to do to get ready night after night."
Kiprusoff isn’t the only Flame on a hot streak. Moss has scored in four straight games and five of his last six, giving him eight goals for the season – doubling his total from 2007-08. He has 22 goals in his three-year career.
"He has certainly become a lot more confident the last four or five games," coach Mike Keenan said. "It’s always that fine line of, ‘Play me more and I’ll play better, and play better and I’ll play you more.’ He’s earned it."
With Sunday’s win, the Flames improved to 2-0 on this four-game road trip, which closes Wednesday against defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit. Calgary has won four straight on the road, posting two shutouts during that stretch. That success comes after it started the season 3-6-0 in away games, allowing an average of 3.7 goals.
This is the Flames’ first visit to Montreal since the Canadiens (15-6-5) won 5-4 on Oct. 17, 2006. Montreal has won three straight over Calgary at home since a 3-1 loss on Dec. 13, 2000.
The Canadiens are looking to bounce back after their three-game winning streak was snapped Saturday in a 2-1 overtime loss to visiting New Jersey. Rookie Matt D’Agostini scored for the third straight game, but the Devils scored a power-play goal 31 seconds into overtime.
Montreal went 0-for-5 on the power play, and is 1-for-19 in the last five games. Its opponents, meanwhile, are 4-for-17 during that stretch.
"Every penalty is tough," Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau said. "The only good one is when you save a goal, in my book. All the other ones – you know, especially at this time of the game, when they just called one on them, you know that they’re going to try and even out."
This will be the first game for Montreal’s Alex Tanguay against his former team. Tanguay, acquired from Calgary on June 20 for two draft picks, has nine goals and nine assists this season after spending the past two years with the Flames.
The Canadiens have completed four games of their franchise-long seven-game homestand. They are 8-2-3 at home and haven’t lost in regulation at the Bell Centre since a 2-1 defeat to Philadelphia on Nov. 14, going 3-0-3 since.
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Posted: 12/8/08 12:46 AM ET
