SAN JOSE -- Mike Keenan was hired to help the Calgary Flames win big games.
Playoff games.
Last night, he contributed heavily to them losing one.
When it mattered most, he panicked.
If he was a player, we'd say he choked.
His crime? Interference.
With the Flames on their heels and the San Jose Sharks having just gone up 4-2 late in the second period of Game 7 last night, Captain Hook saw wisdom in yanking his team's best player.
Having kept the Flames in the game to that point with 26 saves and representing the best chance his club had of coming back, Miikka Kiprusoff was pulled. In came 40-year-old Curtis Joseph in the lamest attempt possible to shake up the team.
If the immediate feeling on the bench wasn't that the series and the season was all but over, it surely was 52 seconds later when the second shot Joseph faced -- a low, weak snapper by Taber's Devin Setoguchi -- made it 5-2.
Sure, it worked magically in Game 3 when Joseph came in to save the day as part of an historic four-goal comeback win. That was a move of desperation following three questionable goals in three minutes.
Fact is, last night's game was still winnable.
But not after a stone-cold Cujo was thrown into the fire and responded accordingly.
No one is blaming the backup in the 5-3 loss -- he played well after settling in. It's just that in the biggest game of the year, your starter -- especially one of Kiprusoff's ilk -- needs to be in the net unless he's struggling mightily.
Thing is, he was the Flames' best player to that point.
None of the four goals were his fault. They were the product of a relentless forecheck that had the Flames on their heels the first two periods. (Whether that was the product of an uninspiring coach, too, is a debate for tomorrow perhaps).
Famous for these type of look-at-me antics, Keenan made the move to try to inject life into the team. Predictably, it had the opposite effect.
It also leaves a bad taste in Kiprusoff's mouth all summer long -- not what you want for your franchise 'keeper.
Kiprusoff was terse when asked if it was disappointing being pulled in Game 7
"Of course, it is," he said, predictably.
Almost as disappointing is Keenan's unwarranted criticism after the game.
"I didn't think it was controversial -- Kipper didn't play very well," said Keenan of the move. "That was the fourth goal they'd scored against us. Certainly I was surprised. I thought he would give us his best game -- he just wasn't on."
Several players bristled when asked about a move that clearly puzzled them.
"I'm not going to comment on that -- I think we're all trying to win the game -- Mike, Kipper, Cujo ..." said Alex Tanguay.
"It didn't really matter at the time -- we were trying to find a way to spark the team up. Kipper has been the bread and butter on this team for years and will be for years to come. This doesn't really make a difference."
Showing tremendous character in the third period to close the gap to 5-3, the Flames did their best to overcome the coach's over-zealousness. It might have ended differently if the gap was 4-3.
A brilliant seven-game set was decided in part by Keenan and in part by a Sharks club that proved too deep.
So, Jeremy Roenick is painted the hero with four points, Ron Wilson looks like a genius for resting him and the Flames lose once again in the first round.
Last year, such indignity cost Jim Playfair his job.
No one is suggesting similar punishment for Keenan. But as GM Darryl Sutter undergoes his evaluation process, a big-game gaffe like this one can't be overlooked.
