Kiprusoff Struggles: Team Needs to Step Up

Miikka Kiprusoff has not been playing well as of late and despite his respectable 9-6 record, entering Thursday he had a very modest .889 save percentage accompanied by an embarrassing 3.31 goals against average. As a result of these poor numbers many people want to put pressure on him saying if he does not play better the Calgary Flames cannot be successful. Although that may be true it is about time some of the other players on that team felt some heat (no pun intended). Kiprusoff has bailed them out time and time again over the years when they have put lackluster defense and streaky offensive production in front of him. This team has way too much talent to rely so hard on goaltending. Jerome Iginla has carried his weight but he too can only take the team so far without adequate help. The Flames invested way too much money and time in the off-season bringing in the likes of Todd Bertuzzi among others as well as sewing up Dion Phaneuf and Robyn Regehr long-term to lay so much at the feet of Kiprusoff and Iginla. It is still early, and the team is not in any real trouble just yet but despite their recent six-game-win-streak if the Flames do not shape up they will be facing another first round playoff exit square in the face.