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CALGARY - Flames goaltenders Reto Berra and Karri Ramo faced a daunting task at training camp last September. Miikka Kiprusoff had just announced his retirement after a decade-long run in Calgary and it would be up to Berra and Ramo to fill the void. It was a tall order and the Flames struggled at the start of the season. But there finally appear to be signs that the team may be ready to turn things around. Berra and Ramo have helped Calgary to a 5-4-2 record in its last 11 games, with three losses coming in close games against league heavyweights Pittsburgh and Boston. Berra entered the holiday break on a high after helping the Flames to a 4-3 shootout win Monday over the surging St. Louis Blues. He made 32 saves and stopped all three shots in the shootout to improve to 5-8-2 on the season. Berra is also a perfect 3-0 in shootouts, an area in which Kiprusoff historically struggled (23-37). "Overall Im happy with where I am," he said. "For my first year over here, Ive played solid, Ive played calm and Ive played my game. "I want to have more wins but sometimes you cant control that." Once described by former Flames general manager Jay Feaster as the “best goaltenders not playing in the NHL,” Berra and Ramo are still adjusting to the league since coming over from Europe. The ice surface is smaller and there is more traffic in front of the net. "One thing Ive been working on is trying to track the puck and follow it with my body," said Berra. "Also, guys here shoot perfect shots so you cant just go down and hope it hits you, you have to read the shot. Thats a big part of where Im way better than at the start of the season. "I can read the shots and where theyre coming." Ramo, who spent the last four seasons in the KHL, is more familiar with the North American game than his teammate. The 27-year-old native of Asikkala, Finland spent three seasons in the Tampa Bay organization after being selected by the Lightning in the sixth round of the 2004 entry draft. "Im trying to be quicker with my positioning so I can get set and see more pucks," said Ramo. "If you can play a little bit more outside the crease and still be quick, thats always better. Berra, a 26-year-old native of Bulach, Switzerland, said he has also noticed a big difference in the number of blocked shots. One of the trademarks of the Flames blue-collar style of play, Calgary has blocked 688 shots this season, second only to Montreal (725). Individually, defencemen Kris Russell (105), Chris Butler (100) and Ladislav Smid (83) all rank in the top 10. "I think the guys would jump face first into shots, they have so much commitment to the Flames," Berra said with a laugh. "They play like a goalie. Sometimes if theres not many shots, its hard to get into the game and Ill be thinking, Hey, let it through, I want to save something too." Flames coach Bob Hartley has been pleased with how his two goaltenders have improved. "Very happy with their progression," Hartley said. "Theyre two great guys. They want to learn, they want to contribute to the team success. They get along great together. Were trying to give them streaks where if they play well, we ride them." Berra started 11 of 12 games in one stretch, starting with a spectacular 42-save win in his NHL debut in Chicago. Lately its been Ramos turn, as he has started eight of the last 12 and is playing his finest hockey of the year. Hes gone 4-2-2 in that span with a 2.06 goals-against average and .925 save percentage. On the season, Ramo is 6-6-3 with a 2.79 GAA and a .904 save percentage. He attended Finlands Olympic orientation in July, but thinks there is little chance hell be in Sochi this February given the countrys depth at the goaltending position. Its unclear if Nashville netminder Pekka Rinne will be ready for the Games as hes still recovering from a hip infection. However, Finland is still loaded with other options, including Bostons Tuukka Rask, San Joses Antti Niemi and Kari Lehtonen of Dallas. "With Finland and the goalies, pretty easy decisions for the people who are selecting," said Ramo. "Theyve been well known for so long in Finland and played in the NHL for so long and have been so good." Its a different scenario for Berra. After a strong showing last May at the world championships, he fully expects to be in the mix on the Swiss team. "For sure," Berra said. "Plus Ive made my next step personally by now playing in the NHL." The Flames, who sit 11 points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference, return to action Friday against the visiting Edmonton Oilers. Keith Hernandez Mets Jersey . With the first unit struggling of late and Amir Johnson - one of the teams iron men - hobbling on an injured right ankle, Patterson knew he could get the nod in a challenging matchup against one of the leagues up and coming players at his position. http://www.metsbaseballshop.com/lucas-duda-mets-jersey/ . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. http://www.metsbaseballshop.com/dwight-gooden-mets-jersey/ . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. http://www.metsbaseballshop.com/bartolo-colon-mets-jersey/ . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. Alejandro De Aza Mets Jersey . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. NEW YORK -- Defending champion Andy Murray could face top-seeded Novak Djokovic only in the semifinals at the U.S. Open, while Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer -- who have never played each other at Flushing Meadows -- might meet in the quarter-finals. Murray earned his first Grand Slam championship by beating Djokovic in the 2012 U.S. Open final, then added a second by beating the No. 1-ranked Serb in the Wimbledon title match last month. But there cant be a rematch in New York in the final, thanks to Thursdays draw. "Coming to the U.S. Open last year, Id never won a Grand Slam. I didnt know if I was ever going to win one," Murray said at the draw ceremony. "A lot of people would say ... like, Hes good enough to win a Grand Slam. Hes going to win one. But the more finals you lose in, the more you start to doubt yourself and think, Is it ever going to happen? Getting that weight off my shoulders last year was huge." Play at the years last Grand Slam tournament begins Monday. In addition to No. 2 Nadal against No. 7 Federer, a 17-time major champion who has his lowest seeding at the U.S. Open since he was 13th in 2002, the other possible mens quarter-finals are 2011 champion Djokovic versus 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro, No. 3 Murray versus No. 5 Tomas Berdych, and No. 4 David Ferrer versus No. 8 Richard Gasquet or 10th-ranked Canadian Milos Raonic. Federer, who owns five U.S. Open titles, and Nadal also were set up for a possible quarter-final at Wimbledon this year, but that never materialized: Nadal lost in the first round, and Federer in the second. The potential womens quarter-finals at the U.S. Open are No. 1 Serena Williams against No. 8 Angelique Kerber, No. 2 Victoria Azarenka against No. 7 Petra Kvitova, No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska against No. 5 Li Na, and No. 4 Sara Errani against No. 6 Caroline Wozniacki. The woman who originally was seeded third in the tournament, 2006 champion Maria Sharapova, withdrew Wednesday because of a right shoulder injury. Raonic, from Thornhill, Ont., joins Vasek Pospisil of Vernon, B.C., in the mens main draw. Montreals Eugenie Bouchard and Aleksandra Wozniak of Blainville, Que., are in the main womens draw. More Canadians could advance to the main draw. Torontos Sharon Fichman, Stephanie Dubois of Laval, Que., and Frank DDancevic of Niagara Falls, Ont.dddddddddddd, all won their opening qualifying matches Thursday. Torontos Steven Diez and Ottawas Jesse Levine lost the opening round of qualifying. Williams 16 Grand Slam titles include four at the U.S. Open, including last year. Her first-round opponent will be 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone. Williams could play 15th-seeded Sloane Stephens of the United States in the fourth round; Stephens won their Australian Open quarter-final in January. "I take every match really seriously. I dont look too far in the draw. I just look at the first one," Williams said. "For me, my competition comes with each match. Every match is going to be a very, very tough competition for me, and I just stay focused on one at a time." Williams has won 77 of her past 81 matches, and was asked Thursday whether she is playing better than she ever has. "I hope not," Williams answered. "I always like to hope I can do better, so well see." Her older sister, 2000-01 U.S. Open champion Venus, is unseeded and was drawn to play No. 12 Kirsten Flipkens, a Wimbledon semifinalist last month, in the first round next week. Djokovic and 2010 U.S. Open champion Nadal, who recently overtook Murray at No. 2 in the rankings, could meet only in the final. Theyve already met in five Grand Slam championship matches, including in New York in 2010 and 2011. One intriguing earlier matchup for 12-time major title winner Nadal could come in the fourth round, when he might have to play six-foot-10 John Isner, a big-serving American who is seeded 13th and pushed the Spaniard to five sets at the French Open two years ago. Nadal was drawn to play another American, 21-year-old Ryan Harrison, in the first round. Djokovic, who has reached at least the semifinals at the U.S. Open each of the past six years, could face 25th-seeded Grigor Dimitrov in the third round. Dimitrov surprisingly beat Djokovic on clay at the Madrid Masters in May, although Djokovic won their matchup less than a month later at the French Open. In the second round, Djokovic might play Lukas Rosol, the man who upset Nadal at Wimbledon while ranked 100th in 2012, or Benjamin Becker, who defeated Andre Agassi at the 2006 U.S. Open in the Americans last professional match. Cheap China Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China China NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China ' ' '
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