Calgary Flames (3-3-2) at Vancouver Canucks (6-2-2)

Saturday, Feb. 9, 7 p.m., Rogers Arena

TV: CBC; Radio: Team 1040

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The Vancouver Canucks certainly don't have the market cornered on goalie issues.

Canucks coach Alain Vigneault announcing Saturday morning that Cory Schneider would get the call in goal is just a sidebar in the big picture to the Flames going with Leland Irving in the nets.

Irving, a former WHL star with the Everett Silvertips, has to carry the load for Calgary with Miikka Kiprusoff on the shelf with a sprained medial collateral ligament.

There's no word on when Kiprusoff might be back. The 36-year-old Finn has played at least 70 games a season for the Flames since 2005-06.

Irving, the 26th overall pick in the 2006 entry draft by Calgary, has just nine NHL games under his belt, compared to 606 for Kiprusoff.

Irving, 24, did earn his first of two NHL wins in Vancouver, turning away 29 shots in a 3-1 triumph on Dec. 23, 2011.

"Obviously Kiprusoff has been their go-to guy for many years," said Vigneault. "He's a guy we've seen on most nights.

"Calgary, in our opinion, is not going to change the way they play because of a different goaltender. They're going to come out hard, they're going to skate, they're going to hit, they're going to be in your face. They're a competitive team."

Vancouver left winger Mason Raymond added: "Leland came in here last year and got his first career win here. He's playing for a reason. He's a good goalie. We need to test him and test him early."

Schneider, 26, is getting his second straight start after sitting four in a row in favour of Roberto Luongo, 33. It's Schneider's first home start since a 3-2 shootout win over these same Flames on Jan. 23.

In his career against Calgary, Schneider is 2-2-0, with a 2.44 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage.

Vigneault joked once again that his decision on a starting goalie was based on a coin flip.

Asked what's surprised him about the team's first 10 games this season, Vigneault wasn't sure what to answer.

"Looking at the first 10 games throughout the NHL this year, there's been ... I don't want to say bizarre things going on, but there's some different things on the ice right now," he said.

"Teams just have to find ways. They have to grind it out. Players are slowly but surely finding their rhythm without the normal three-week training camp.

"We're like a lot of teams right now. We're grinding it out. We're finding ways to get some points. That's real important at this time."

CANUCKS LINEUP

Forward:

D. Sedin-H.Sedin-Burrows

Raymond-Schroeder-Hansen

Higgins-Lapierre-Kassian

Volpatti-Malhotra-Wiese

Defence:

Hamhuis-Edler

Garrison-Bieksa

Ballard-Tanev

Goal: Schneider

Scratches: Alberts, Barker, Ebbett

FLAMES LINEUP

Forward:

Glencross-Tanguay-Iginla

Hudler-Street-Cervenka

Comeau-Stajan-Stempniak

Begin-Jones-Jackman

Defence:

Giordano-Bouwmeester

Brodie-Wideman

Smith-Butler

Goal: Irving

Scratches: Babchuk, Sarich

Injured: Cammalleri, Backlund, Baertschi, Kiprusoff