It was encouraging to see Connor Zary score Wednesday in Abbotsford, B.C., but the Flames’ best performance came from goalie Ivan Prosvetov.
It was encouraging to see Connor Zary score Wednesday in Abbotsford, B.C., but the Flames’ best performance came from goalie Ivan Prosvetov.
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Four down, four to go.
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The Calgary Flames hit the halfway mark of their tuneup schedule Wednesday, albeit in losing fashion, falling 3-1 to the Vancouver Canucks in pre-season action in Abbotsford, B.C.
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On a night that most of Calgary’s big names remained at home, backup goalie candidate Ivan Prosvetov was the best-of-the-bunch for the road team.
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Connor Zary found the back of the net on the man-advantage, fellow forwards Martin Pospisil and Joel Farabee earned the assists and it was a relief to see blue-liner Jake Bean return after he initially appeared to be injured on a heavy hit.
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Here are three takeaways from Wednesday’s contest, with a round of cuts likely looming before the Flames hit the ice next …
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Noon News Roundup
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Strong grade for the goalie
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Calgary’s top performer against the Canucks? It was, without question, the puck-stopper.
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With 28 saves in Abbotsford, Prosvetov bolstered his case to be Dustin Wolf’s backup.
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Your move, Devin Cooley.
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“I thought he was solid all game,” praised Flames coach Ryan Huska. “There was a few point-blank saves that he made.”
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Some of the best? We’re glad you asked.
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The 26-year-old Prosvetov, signed this summer as a free agent after spending last season back home in the KHL, denied Filip Chytil on a breakaway.
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He stoned Max Sasson as he tried to finish off a tic-tac-toe passing play, then showed great anticipation so he was squared up to face one-timers from Arshdeep Bains and MacKenzie MacEachern.
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In the final seconds of the middle frame, the Flames’ masked man made a sprawling save on Nils Aman. We loved the call from Sportsnet 960 The Fan’s Derek Wills, who described it as ‘a snow angel.’ Well put.
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Prosvetov has now turned aside 53-of-58 shots in two pre-season starts. While he posted underwhelming numbers in previous NHL stints with the Arizona Coyotes and Colorado Avalanche, you can see why he was high on the Flames’ list of potential replacements for Dan Vladar.
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“I never look too far ahead,” said Prosvetov, who was 20-16-2 last season for CSKA Moscow, at the outset of training camp. “I just try my best, show my game. I know that I’m already kind of building my game. I don’t want to change, you know? I’ve been the starting goalie for one of the best teams in Russia, played many games there, and I was ‘The Guy.’
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“Here, the role is going to change, for sure. I know that. But I think I’m a good goalie and I have a lot to show.”