In many ways Tuesday’s Flame-Canuck game took on the tone of the exciting 7-game playoff series the clubs engaged in 5 years ago.

   The difference?  The Canucks now have an outstanding goaltender to match the Flames’ Miikka Kiprusoff.

   In a highly entertaining confrontation, Kiprusoff and the Canucks’ Roberto Luongo put on a tremendous goaltending clinic.  Luongo emerged the victor 4-3 in a shootout, but Kiprusoff was #1 star.

   The teams combined to take 84 shots in 65 minutes and then 5 more in the shootout where the Canucks’ Pavol Dimitra scored the only goal.  Todd Bertuzzi, on the Flames third shootout endeavor, nearly scored when he worked Luongo out of position with a spin-o-rama and then hit the goal post.

   Kiprusoff was at his best in the third period when the Flames seemed to lag back rather than taking the play to the Canucks as they had done earlier  Kipper made 16 saves in the 3rd. None bigger than his highlight reel, stick-extended diving save of Kyle Wellwood.

   Luongo was at his best in the first and second periods when the Flames peppered him with 31 shots.

   Jarome Iginla played his best game in a while notching a goal and an assist as he with Rene Bourque, who scored his 20th goal, and Craig Conroy was the Flames best line.

   The game had extremely high entertainment value in the Canucks final regular-season visit to Calgary.

   But, there is a chance these clubs could match up in a playoff series in April again. The difference? This time the Flames likely would have home ice advantage.

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