DETROIT - Miikka Kiprusoff was as busy as he was sensational Friday night.

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Calgary Flames' goalie Miikka Kiprusoff (R) and defenseman Adam Pardy (L) defend their net against Detroit Red Wings' center Kris Draper during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Detroit, Michigan November 27, 2009.

Photograph by : Reuters

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The Calgary Flames netminder stopped 40 shots for his second shutout of the season, the 32nd of his career, in a 3-0 Flames victory over the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena.

But the major storyline leading up the match had been the Wings' inability to score.

"I think they looked pretty normal," said Kiprusoff, chuckling. "Not an easy team to play."

But, while the rest of the United States experienced Black Friday - a big-league day for retailers and bargain-hunting shoppers - the Wings endured Blank Friday, thanks to Kiprusoff.

With the most recent goose-egg, the Wings, unthinkably, have not scored a single time in 153:22. And they've suffered back-to-back home-ice shutouts for the first time since 1977.

"These are trying times for us, offensively," said forward Dan Cleary, who certainly would know.

In the first period, Cleary, with his boot in the crease, tipped in Brad Stuart's point shot. No goal, because of the winger's encroachment.

In the dying seconds of the second, Cleary rapped home a loose puck. No goal, because the whistle had blown.

"For them, they were just throwing everything at the net," said Flames defenceman Robyn Regehr. "We were trying to let Miikka see as much as he could. He was making great saves out there, even when he couldn't see."

After 40 minutes, the shot count was 32-11 in favour of the Wings, but the goalie didn't lack offensive support.

Motor City fans were still taking their seats when Jamie Lundmark made it 1-0 . . . just 28 seconds in.

"Big for us to start the game with a goal," said Lundmark. "Kind of sets the whole game up."

He's right, because the Flames' flair for the dramatic didn't end there.

Nigel Dawes, taking advantage of a Detroit miscommunication, made it 2-0 late in the first.

Then, just 25 seconds into the third, Jokinen put Calgary ahead by three.

Yes, opportunistic work by the Flames (who made hay in the first of a six-city trip) and a fine effort by the penalty killers, who defused nearly 10 minutes of man disadvantage.

But the night began and ended with Kiprusoff.

"I've had a chance to see him quite a bit over the years, and I've seen him make some amazing, amazing saves," said Regehr, grinning. "He's not just a good technical goaltender, but sometimes, when he can't see the puck ''til the last minute, he's so quick he's able to make a reaction save. An outstanding game."

The third period belonged to the Flames, who limited the Wings to only eight shots on goal - and just a single scoring chance: a snappy Todd Bertuzzi-to-Tomas Holmstrom sequence that was snuffed out by Kiprusoff - and nearly no life.

"We got much better," said Regehr. "Sometimes, it's not going to go the exact way that you want it. In those types of games, you know it's going to be a little bit of a struggle . . . and Miikka held us in there the first two periods. We were able to get going a little bit in the third and get some pressure on their team, their defencemen, in their zone."

Calgary Herald

scruickshank@theherald.canwest.com