Another Breathtaking Display By Top Goalie

There’s no doubt who the best goalie in hockey is right now.

Fred Brathwaite.

Despite being outshot, 27-19, the Calgary Flames relied on Brathwaite to pull out a 2-0 road victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday night. It was Brathwaite’s third shutout in 10 games, a span in which he’s posted a 7-1-2 record and given up only 11 goals.

“This wouldn’t happen unless those guys are playing well,” said Brathwaite, who entered with a league-leading .930 save percentage. “They’re letting me see the shots. It’s giving me a chance to get on top of the crease and just making my job a lot easier.”

Derek Morris’s first-period goal stood up as the game-winner as the Flames improved to 3-0-1 against the Canucks this season.

Pittsburgh 4, Chicago 2--Jaromir Jagr scored twice at Chicago to take over the NHL lead in goals as the Penguins won their third in a row. Jagr, who also leads the league in points with 58, moved past San Jose’s Owen Nolan, who has 26 goals.

Nashville 3, St. Louis 2--Tomas Vokoun ended a 10-game winless slump with 26 saves at St. Louis as the Predators defeated the Blues for the first time in six games. The Predators have a modest five-game unbeaten streak (2-0-3), which is a record for the year-old franchise. The Blues’ six-game unbeaten streak (4-0-2) came to an end.

Atlanta 6, Tampa Bay 3--Shean Donovan and Steve Staios scored 30 seconds apart in the third period at Atlanta to break open a tie game as the Thrashers defeated the Lightning for the third time this season.

Carolina 4, Florida 3--Nolan Pratt’s first goal of the season, 27 seconds into overtime, gave the Hurricanes a victory over the Panthers at Raleigh, N.C. The Panthers had been undefeated in 15 games when leading after two periods.

New York Rangers 3, New Jersey 3--Rookie Scott Gomez scored his first hat trick for the Devils, and Theo Fleury had a goal and two assists for the Rangers as the teams skated to a tie at New York.