Calgary Flames Jay Bouwmeester (4) pushes St. Louis Blues Chris Stewart out of the crease as Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff of Finland stps the puck with his chest in the first period at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on March 1, 2011. Calgary won the game 6-0. UPI/Bill Greenblatt
I didn’t pay particular attention to the fact that the Blues were shut out 1-0 Sunday night in Calgary. However, after Tuesday night’s 6-0 loss to the Flames, I was trying to think of the last time the Blues were shut out before this mini slump? NHL.com helped answer that question for me.
The Blues had gone a NHL best 110 games without being shutout before the loss in Calgary, and now for the second time in three days, Miika Kiprusoff set up his own firewall, protecting his net by turning aside 25 shots.
Calgary Flames Jarome Iginla (L) celebrates his third period goal against the St. Louis Blues with teammate David Moss at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on March 1, 2011. Calgary won the game 6-0. UPI/Bill Greenblatt
The Blues had excellent scoring opportunities, especially in the second period as the Blues were buzzing the net down 1-0 at that point. Flames captain Jerome Iginla said, “He (Kiprusoff) was great both games. In the second period they had some good chances and it was anybody’s game at that point.”
It looked like the Blues were deflated after coming up empty handed in the second period as Calgary lit the Blues up for five goals, including two from Iginla who added an assist as well.
“Iginla really made us look bad on a few plays, a couple times they got odd-man rushes, we just failed to grab assignments and they made us pay,” Blues forward David Backes said. “It should be tough for guys to sleep tonight.”