Kiprusoff ’ s swan song gives fans chance to say farewell

CALGARY — The last sendoff of one icon wasn’t what a city had envisioned, or the man merited.

Ghostly reminders of past glories, irretrievable greatness, indelible moments, relegated to colour- splash pixels up on a Jumbotron during a TV timeout. Jarome Iginla was actually, physically, in the air, cruising at around 30,000 feet, winging his way to the banks of the Allegheny, while 19,289 rose as one to salute his lasting legacy as a Calgary Flame.

“Really?” marvelled Iginla two days later, when informed of the tribute. “I appreciate that. Wish I’d had the chance to be there.”

Miikka Kiprusoff, luckily enough, has his chance.

With mounting speculation that the flexible Finn has in fact decided to retire at season’s end, Wednesday night or maybe Friday might just be the last opportunity for fans to say goodbye to the finest goaltending talent this franchise has ever known.

“Yeah, I’ve thought about it,” was as much as Kiprusoff would concede publicly on Tuesday. “Especially now when you guys bring it up. But … yeah. Like I say, there’s a chance.”

Deep down, in his heart, you sense, he’s made the call.

With a year left on a contract that dips to $ 1.5 million next season, faced at 36 with the drawn- out pain of an organizational rebuild, dissatisfied with the season he’s suffered through and his workload since returning from a month- long knee injury, there seems no way back now.

Two games remain at the Scotiabank Saddledome before the Flames embark on a fourgame road junket to play out the season.

Kiprusoff, after three games perched on the end of the bench modelling ball caps and nursing a suspicious “twisted arm” injury, gets the call Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings.

Friday against the Anaheim Ducks is, well, anyone’s guess.

“( Joey MacDonald) has been red- hot,” said Kiprusoff diplomatically. “He’s playing so well. They don’t want to change the goalie that’s playing that well. But I’m getting my chance ( on Wednesday) and I’ll try to do my best.”

At his best that best was the best.

So enjoy the show, good, bad or indifferent. Kiprusoff long ago earned such indulgences.

“He was The Repairman,” lauded former Flames’ goaltending coach David Marcoux. “Whatever needed fixing, Miikka fixed it.

“Taking him for granted? Yes. I think so. Fans here maybe got a little spoiled, seeing him play at such a high level for so many years. But I also think the people of Calgary, the diehard fans who are actually at the games or watching all the time on TV, know what he brought to the table almost every night.”

Possibly he feels his powers dwindling . Maybe he’s just come to a point in his life where he has a hankering to put his feet up and go fishing.

They’re all understandable reasons.

If the trading of Jarome Iginla three weeks ago signalled for many the end of an era, the departure of Miikka Kiprusoff would make it official.

At least No. 34 shouldn’t have to hear the applause second hand.