Risky business

It’s the biggest game of the season (we all know that), against a team the Calgary Flames have yet to beat this season. That’s why some find it odd to see the Calgary Flames start Vesa Toskala in net over Miikka Kiprusoff tonight in Denver.

To be honest, I’m not sure what the pulse would be on this move… It’s certainly ballsy and a big gamble. There’s no question that it’ll be much talked about regardless of what the result ends up being.

If the Flames end up losing this hockey game, every single goal will be scrutinized by many. "Vesa should have stopped that," or "Miikka would have stopped this," is probably going to be the tone of some conversations. And for good reason. It’s Toskala’s second start since joining the Flames in a deadline day deal from Anaheim. He’s played five periods since then, picking up the "W" in a March 7th win over Minnesota. He also played on Sunday night, seeing action in the final 2 periods in Calgary’s 3-1 loss in Vancouver. If they end up winning, well, maybe some will call it a gutsy move that paid off.

I don’t really have a huge problem with it. Every game is as important as the next, so it’s not as if this game looms any larger than Friday’s at home against San Jose. If we were talking about Curtis McElhinney, who had yet to inspire ANY confidence, it’s clearly a different story.

But, for me anyway, it’s been five good periods from Toskala. How much confidence that inspires in you, that’s up to you. Jarome Iginla said today he likes it, because you need both goalies going. Is he going to say that anyway? Probably. But, I happen to believe this isn’t a huge deal one way or the other.

Kiprusoff hasn’t beaten Colorado this season, neither have the Flames. Why not try something different? I don’t think Toskala will be the reason Calgary loses this game. But then again, as happens far too often, I could be very, very wrong.