Calgary Flames T.J Brodie (L) hits Edmonton Oilers Colin Fraser against the boards during the second period of their pre-season NHL hockey game in Calgary, Alberta, October 3, 2010. REUTERS/Todd KorolTODD KOROL/Reuters
Miikka Kiprusoff was perfect Sunday night, and he helped the Calgary Flames finish up the pre-season the same way.
Kiprusoff made 27 saves and Alex Tanguay scored the lone goal as the Flames won 1-0 over the Edmonton Oilers to finish up exhibition play a perfect 7-0.
Calgary is the lone NHL team to finish the pre-season without a loss. Washington was also perfect at 5-0 before losing 3-0 Sunday night to Nashville.
Edmonton ended up 4-2.
All the energy, emotion and excitement notably missing from Sunday night's game will likely be present Thursday night in Edmonton, when the teams meet again in one of five games on the schedule for opening night of the NHL regular season.
Kiprusoff's best stop came four minutes into the third period, providing a much needed dose of excitement for the sell-out Saddledome crowd of 19,289. The 33-year-old veteran sprawled across the crease as he followed Oilers young star Jordan Eberle, then acrobatically kicked up his top pad to knock away Eberle's shot as it looked like it was going in.
Calgary's goal came 5:36 into the first period as the Flames' top line of Jarome Iginla, Olli Jokinen and Tanguay connected on a power play.
Edmonton starting goaltender Devan Dubnyk failed to corral the puck after it caromed off the end boards and in front of the net. In the ensuing scramble, Tanguay jabbed the puck inside the far goal post for his first goal of the pre-season.
That would be the extent of the scoring with the goalies not surrendering another goal the final 54-plus minutes.
Edmonton used the game to take a last look at several players competing for positions both up front and on defence. Those forwards on the brink that were hoping to impress and land a spot on the opening night roster included Alexandre Giroux, Randy Jones, Linus Omark, Ryan O'Marra and Ben Ondrus.
Edmonton will beef up its lineup Thursday with the presence of Shawn Horcoff, Ryan Whitney, Kurtis Foster, James Vandermeer and Zack Stortini.
Dubnyk played the first half of the game recording 17 stops. Jeff Deslauriers took over at that point and turned aside all 10 shots he faced.
The Oilers and Flames both have 32 players on the roster and need to whittle that down to a maximum of 23 players by Wednesday.
Calgary could place as many as five players - all forwards - on injured reserve to start the season. The latest two veterans to be knocked out of the line-up indefinitely are Alex Kotalik (knee) and David Moss (shoulder), who were both injured Friday night in Edmonton. Daymond Langkow (neck), Matt Stajan (shoulder) and Ryan Stone (knee) were already sidelined.
Centre Stefan Meyer and left-winger Brett Sutter, son of Flames general manager Darryl Sutter, are considered two of the favourites for the three or four spots that could be available up front to start the year. Meyer and Sutter both played Sunday versus the Oilers.
Notes: Calgary plays Edmonton twice in its first four games of the regular season making it four meetings in the first 16 days of October.