Many Flame players have plans for after Wednesday’s game but they have business to take care of first.

   The Flames haven’t lost 3-straight games all season and need to avoid that with a win over Columbus before heading out on their All-Star break.

   Neither Miikka Kiprusoff or Steve Mason are going to Montreal this weekend but both have authored all-star performances this season.

   Tonight will be the first time the veteran Kiprusoff and the rookie Mason have opposed each other.  When the ‘Jackets won 3-1 on Nov. 8 in Columbus, Curtis McEllhinney was the netminder against Mason.

   Kipper and Mason enter the game at the top of the NHL’s 4 important statistical categories for goalkeepers.

   The 20-year-old Mason has played 13 fewer games than Kiprusoff but has the league’s best goals against average, leads in shutouts with 6 and is #2 in save percentage.  Kiprusoff is at the top of the important win column with 27.

   After tonight the Flames won’t re-convene until next Monday. Many are heading out of town for the respite. They’d go in a better mood with a win.

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