Give Irving the next few starts

[Hemi-Cuda]

Tonight was extra bad, but Kiprusoff has IMO been one of the worst Flames to start the season this year (along with Cammalleri and Butler). I haven't seen him make one really good save so far, but he's let in a good half dozen rotten goals and just doesn't look comfortable in net. This year was supposed to be a write off anyways, and since the Flames are living up to their bottom on the league predictions why not see what Irving can do with some consecutive games. It would be nice to know if the franchise has anything worthwhile in their goaltending prospects, or if a move will need to be made when Kiprusoff retires

[SofaProfessor]

I would hate to throw the guy in for his first game of the season against the Blackhawks. But I do agree, if things keep going this way then we need to see him get some consecutive starts. It would just suck to see him get lit up by the best team in the league and lose his confidence before he even had it. Maybe that's just me though.

[Macho0978]

I agree. Kipper has been the worst Flames so far especially when you base it on expectation. I say split time until he gets going. If Irving plays well let him play more. Kipper lost us the game tonight and against Anaheim. We haven't look that bad as a team so far other then a few players.

Smith in Butler out for a month or someone gets hurt

[Mitch]

It won't happen.

[Yamer]

I would imagine we see Irving in a week against the Jackets.

[Hells Bells]

How dare you be critical of Kiprusoff!

Don't you know he's excused from criticism because he was good for so many years.

[Erick Estrada]

You could tell after the 2nd goal he wasn't going to be on tonight. I would have pulled him then. Hartley so far though seems content losing by playing his supposed best players even though many aren't on their game.

[Roof-Daddy]

Love Kipper....always have, always will.....but I agree Hemi, he's been awful to start the year, and tonight he cost us two points IMO.

Not sure if he needs to play his way into form or not, but with this shortened season we can't afford it.

[Trojan97]

Let him redeem himself against Chicago. If he doesn't play a strong game, go with Irving vs Detroit. Playing Irving against the Hawks will likely turn into a nightmare.

[Matty81]

I'd agree, not for 7 games but for as long as he plays decent. Kipper usually doesn't slump for long but I think the Flames have been riding their veterans heavily with the internal belief that they have no need to invest in youth or rebuild in the face of conventional wisdom for way too many years. While it seems like the Ramo/Brossoit/Gillies group is more highly thought of than Irving, he's young and under team control and giving him a few games is only going to help the club in the long run. You either build some value and/or develop another option or you determine that you need to go in another direction long run.

[Huntingwhale]

This loss is on Kipper IMO, but at the same time it's Kipper...if there is someone on the team that I am NOT worried about, it's him. I'd still like to see Irving make his debut sooner rather then later though.

[Traditional_Ale]

Usually when Kipper is the goat, he comes back with an all-world performance.

[dino7c]

you gotta give Kipper a chance to work out of it or its over anyway

[hkstylez]

Kipper's peacing out after this season, if the Flames don't make it to the playoffs with this shorten season, that mean's he'll retire and it'll be an earlier flight back home to Finland.

[nik-]

It won't happen, but he should get the two following games.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

Usually when Kipper is the goat, he comes back with an all-world performance.

Except he's been the goat in almost every game this year (including nearly being one in the Edmonton game)

[The Big Thirsty]

We currently have the worst goalie in the NHL. This isn't even debatable anymore. I'm so tired of the the regular fanboys on here with their backhanded comments and emoticons anytime anyone critiques their hero. Kipper has been living off two seasons 7-8 years ago for the past 4 years. Bad goals at bad times. He completely deflates the team. I really donnt care how many saves he makes in meaningless games and garbage time. Did anyone notice the bench after he 2nd goal. Completely had the air taken out of their tires. Rolling their eyes with the " here we go again" expression. Worst part is, I honestly think this is the best Flames team we've had in years. Other teams goaltending is outplaying ours on a nightly basis. Time to gt someone like Bishop if we want to make the playoffs.

We can blame Butler all we want ( and he is horrible) but just once this year it would be nice for Kipper to bail him out.

[Dion]

How many games do you give Kiprusoff to get his game back?

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Dion

How many games do you give Kiprusoff to get his game back?

lol for some reason this made me laugh ... and not a good laugh, but a bad one.

We're so screwed

[gargamel]

Kipper hasn't been good enough through 5 games, but, other than tonight's awful performance, he hasn't been bad enough to give any indication that we'd have a better chance of winning with a 3rd string AHL goalie.

As Kipper goes, so goes the team, so we need to give him a chance to play himself into form for at least half the season. If he's better by then, we'll have a chance, and if he's not, there will be plenty of time to give other guys auditions.