Calgary Flames’ goaltender Karri Ramo is finally showing signs of settling into his elevated role, showing a steady improvement in form over the past few weeks.
Karri Ramo found himself pushed into the Calgary Flames’ net as a result of injury to normal number one, Jonas Hiller. Between Ramo and Joni Ortio, the position was ripe for the picking and initially it didn’t look favorable for Ramo.
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Ramo, a 191st overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, saw himself sent to the Calgary Flames’ AHL affiliate Stockton Heat prior to the injury, only to be recalled and given a run in the side. The Finn didn’t exactly set the world on fire against the Washington Capitals on October 20th, conceding four with a ridiculously bad save percentage.
He waited almost a week and a half for another chance between the pipes following his re-assignment post that game, and it was to come because Ortio also put in a poor showing in lieu of Hiller being out.
Away to Edmonton, Ramo dropped another four goals and following it up on the road in Colorado as the Calgary Flames dropped six, five with Ramo in net. The important statistic though is that his save percentage continued to increase as his confidence grew, ignoring the sheer volume of pucks making it past him.
The faith shown by Bob Hartley in giving him an extended run was finally repaid at home to Philadelphia, where he only leaked the one goal with a season-high .963 save percentage. He backed this up, only dropping two to the immense attacking firepower of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Finally, the Calgary Flames may have a little bit of a steadying presence in net; that and his improvement has coincided with the defensive lines finally showing signs of some chemistry.
For Calgary Flames head coach, Bob Hartley, he may soon find he has a decision to make. Jonas Hiller will soon return from injury and is likely to be a little rusty between the pipes in the immediate short-term. He did however prove himself to be a reasonable tender in last season’s playoff run.
“No matter how many goals you score, if you give four or five a game you make it real tough on yourself. You don’t need to be a genius to figure that one out.” – Bob Hartley (flames.NHL.com)
The alternative is that you continue to give an extended chance to the 29-year old Finn that is finally showing a little form, Karri Ramo.
My choice would be to continue to let Karri Ramo run his course; he may not be the future of the Calgary Flames organisation, but right now he’s the one starting to show the ability to hold fort in net. To bring Hiller straight back into the line-up would be a massive risk, both in terms of destabilising the defense and the fact he’s not going to be at peak game condition, by comparison to the man that’s been between the pipes the last five games.
Add in the wildcard here; Ramo has already cleared waivers for his previous re-assignment to the Stockton Heat. Ortio hasn’t and neither has Hiller. Ortio has slightly more upside potential than Ramo and would be a waiver risk, as would Hiller based purely on last season’s form. This season, he wasn’t exactly setting the world ablaze for the Calgary Flames prior to going down.
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Statistics courtesy of NHL.com.
Would you stick with the in-form player or throw a cold goalie back between the pipes? Tell us your opinion in the comments section below.