A delay-of-game penalty could have been expected with the new rules affecting AHL goalies. But not the way Brent Krahn was flagged in his season debut.
"It had nothing to do with the new rules," the Flames' first-round draftee from 2000 sheepishly admitted. "I was behind the net getting ready to play the puck and it took a funny bounce, so I caught it instead.
"Then I skated to my crease. The ref said I couldn't do that."
Krahn is one of many AHL netminders going through the early- season experimentation to reduce their puck-handling prowess.
For the first couple of months, there are restricting lines around the net, defining the limits of where a goaltender may play the puck. The area, marked by lines on the ice, begins at the goal-line 6 ft. from both sides of the net and extends diagonally to points 28 ft. apart at the end boards.
Goalies are not permitted to play any puck behind the goal-line outside the restricted area and receive a minor penalty if they do so. The test will end Nov. 28, at which time the AHL will determine whether the rule will remain in effect for the rest of the season.
"Not many goaltenders go out to the corners to play the puck, except maybe guys like Marty Turco or Rick DiPietro, so it's not that bad," Krahn said.
"It's tougher on the defencemen. When somebody puts a soft chip in the corner, a goaltender could usually go get it and pass it to a d-man when he posted up. This way, somebody dumps the puck in the corner, the only thing a goalie can do is say, 'There's a guy on you.' It causes for more turnovers because the d-men can get pounded."
The second pro season for the former Calgary Hitmen standout hasn't exactly started on a high note. In his first two contests -- he was slated to start last night's game against Hartford -- he's 1-1 with a 4.10 goals-against average and .877 save percentage.
Still, it's only a couple of games into a season in which he's sharing duties with first-year pro and former Red Deer Rebel Cam Ward, a Carolina Hurricanes prospect.
"I'm more calm and composed and am working more on the consistency," said Krahn, whose time last season was split between Las Vegas of the ECHL and both Lowell and San Antonio in the AHL.
Competing for the top job with a former Rebel only adds a little intrigue to it all.
"We joke about it from time to time but we know what's at stake here and get along great," Krahn said.
"It's good. It creates healthy competition. Cam Ward is a great goaltender and good competition drives the best in people. I don't see it as a problem. It's a challenge and we'll have a lot of fun."
Other rules implemented this season in the AHL are a return to the tag-up offside, automatic icing, two-ft. wide bluelines and a new red line -- twice as big as last season. Also, there will be shootouts to decide regular-season games tied after overtime.
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MONSTER TALES: The Lock Monsters also play tonight in Worcester ... Call it a successful return for Lynn Loyns. The forward, who had three heart surgeries in August/September, has a goal and an assist in his first four games.
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WRANGLER ROUNDUP: Goaltender Sebastien Centomo rebounded from a terrible pre-season by holding Fresno to one goal in a 5-1 season-opening victory for Las Vegas ... The Wranglers, which have outshot their opposition 80-55 in its first two games, are not back in action until Tuesday when the Long Beach Ice Dogs come to town.
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JUNIOR JOLTS: One of the few bright spots so far this season for the struggling Moose Jaw Warriors is Dustin Boyd. The Flames' fourth-round pick from this summer's draft went into last night's clash against Red Deer with five goals and six assists in 12 games. The Warriors are in Calgary tonight to face the Hitmen.
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COLLEGE CLIPS: Goalie Curtis McElhinney, the local product drafted by the Flames in 2002, has two wins in as many games for Colorado College, to go with a 1.50 GAA and .945 save percentage ... David Moss and Eric Nystrom -- both also '02 picks of the Flames -- are tied for top spot on Michigan's roster with two goals each. The Wolverines are ranked No. 1 in the NCAA.
