News and notes from around the crease...
Ramo goes at MSG
Karri Ramo will get the start in goal tonight when Calgary takes on the Rangers in New York, and knows this opportunity -- getting the nod ahead of Jonas Hiller, that is -- could be viewed as a potential showcase for a trade.
Not that the pending UFA is letting it distract him.
“It’s not up to me,” Ramo said, per the Calgary Herald. “Maybe some players are affected by this, when they are going to decide where they want to go.
“All I can do is to play my best, work hard, and if it happens, it happens.”
There are rumblings around Ramo, and with good reason. He’s unrestricted come July 1, and it stands to reason he’s not in Calgary’s future plans -- Hiller is under contract for one more year at $4.5M and the club is very high on 23-year-old Joni Ortio, an AHL All-Star this season who went 4-1-0 with a 1.98 GAA and .931 save percentage in a five-game NHL cameo earlier this year.
Calgary also has a history of flipping goalie depth at the deadline -- last year, the Flames sent Reto Berra to Colorado in exchange for a second-round pick.
It remains to be seen if Ramo would garner similar interest on the open market. The 28-year-old’s numbers on the year aren’t great -- 9-5-1, .904 save percentage, 2.69 GAA -- but he could be seen as an upgrade at the backup position for certain teams.
That said, he would be an expensive option with his $2.75M cap hit.
(Also, no word yet on who’ll start for the Rangers.)
Elsewhere...
Canucks at Bruins: Eddie Lack for Vancouver, Tuukka Rask likely for Boston.
Coyotes at Isles: Mike Smith vs. Chad Johnson
Flyers at ‘Canes: Rob Zepp vs. Cam Ward
Sabres at Jackets: Michal Neuvirth vs. Anton Forsberg
Stars at Jets: Michael Hutchinson for Winnipeg, Jhonas Enroth likely for Dallas
Oilers at Wild: Devan Dubnyk for Minnesota, no word yet on an Edmonton starter.
Avs at Preds: Nothing yet from either team.
Habs at Blues: Carey Price vs. Jake Allen
Panthers at ‘Hawks: Scott Darling for Chicago, no word yet on a Florida starter.
Wings at Kings: Jonas Gustavsson for Detroit, no word yet on a L.A. starter.