Flames “unicorn” Markstrom critical to successful season (+)

Head coach Darryl Sutter walked into the dressing room during the first intermission after his Calgary Flames fell behind on the road against the Minnesota Wild. He went around the room telling his players what they needed to do to overcome a horrific start.

Goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff was last. But there were no actual words spoken. None were needed.

“Miikka had a slow start. Darryl came in and kind of tuned up the room a little. On his way out, he just looked at Miikka and said his name. No words were exchanged. It was just a look. They locked eyes and that look said everything to Miikka. Like, ‘let’s go here, we need you,” recalled former Flames goaltender Jamie McLennan, the other goalie in the room at the time.

“I remember thinking there were so many words in that look, that exchange, that weren’t said. Miikka nodded, and that was it.”

If the Calgary Flames are going to do what McLennan – now a TSN hockey analyst – believes they are capable of this season, they’re going to need Jacob Markstrom to do his best Kiprusoff impression.