week to Vancouver was the lone regulation setback of a five-game s

The Calgary Flames were hard-working team last season, but they werent overly skilled and had subpar goaltending. They made a move in free agency to address the latter concern. Numbers Game examines the Flames addition of Jonas Hiller. The Flames Get: G Jonas Hiller. Hiller, 32, has been an above average starting goaltender over the course of his career, posting a .916 save percentage, but the past three seasons have not been so kind, as Hillers .911 save percentage ranks 22nd out of 29 goaltenders to play at least 100 games in that span. Of those below Hiller on that list, Steve Mason and Ondrej Pavelec are the only ones set to be clear number ones with their teams going into next season. Hillers even-strength save percentage over that time, .922, is below average, at least among goaltenders that have played starters minutes. Being a below-average starter can still be an improvement for the Flames, but it should also manage expectations for Hiller, who was beaten out for playoff playing time in Anaheim, by rookies Frederik Andersen and John Gibson. Even so, in Calgary, Hiller will be battling Karri Ramo for playing time and Ramo had a .911 save percentage last season -- his first year in the NHL since 2008-2009 -- and owns a .902 save percentage in 88 career games. To his credit, Ramo came on after a slow start last season, posting a .918 save percentage in 30 games from December through the end of the season, so maybe he can compete with Hiller for playing time. Even if Hiller might not be great at this stage of his career, hes likely an upgrade on Ramo and thats what matters to the Flames. With Hiller and Ramo together, the Flames have a chance to get something close to league-average goaltending. That may not be enough to get them into playoff contention -- they ranked 26th in puck possession last season, after all -- but he makes the Flames better. Signed for $9-million over two seasons, Hiller is being paid like a starting goaltender, but the short term makes this a smart, low-risk move for the Flames. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. Cheap Lebron James Shoes . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. Cheap Lebrons From China . Various media outlets, including the Detroit Free Press, indicate a deal is close, while USA Today cited an unidentified person directly involved with the negotiations as saying the pact is for two years. http://www.wholesalelebron.com/ . The Twins announced Thursday the 28-year-old Albers cleared waivers. He will join the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization. Lebron James Sneakers Wholesale . - Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard has signed with WME-IMG, saying the sports management powerhouse will help maximize the value of my brand. Cheap Lebron Shoes China . Reimer is winless (0-2-1) since returning from a six-week absence due to concussion-like symptoms. The Maple Leafs dropped a 4-2 decision to the hosting Washington Capitals on Friday.VANCOUVER - The San Jose Sharks and Vancouver Canucks have seen plenty of each other with three prior meetings already this season. Following tonights battle in Vancouver, they wont see each other again this season unless they meet in the playoffs. The Sharks bested the Canucks twice during their 6-0 start to the season, recording a pair of 4-1 wins. The two opened the season against each other in San Jose before meeting seven days later in Vancouver. The Canucks finally got some payback last Thursday with a 4-2 win over the Sharks in San Jose, snapping a five-game series losing streak. They have still lost four of the past five encounters at home. Vancouver is comnig off a 1-2-1 four-game road trip, with the lone victory coming in San Jose. They concluded the swing on Sunday with a 3-1 setback versus the Anaheim Ducks. Tom Sestito scored and Eddie Lack had 20 saves. It was a rough trip for Vancouvers top line of Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler. The Sedin twins were held without a point in the final three contests after both had an assist in the first game, while Kesler had a goal and a helper in the four contests. "Its been a struggle the past few games," Vancouver coach John Tortorella noted of his top line. "We know what they are as people. We know what they are as players. Its been a struggle the past two, three games here. Theyre going to bounce out of it and theyre going to be the players that we know they are." Vancouver will now begin a six-game homestand looking to improve on its 4-3-0 record as the host. With both backups having started their respective clubs previous game, tonights contest should feature San Joses Antti Niemi and Roberto Luongo of Vancouver for the fourrth time this season.dddddddddddd Niemi, who has started 16 of his clubs 18 games this season, has posted a 2.48 goals against average in the three meetings in 2013-14 and is 8-7-2 with a 2.75 GAA in 17 lifetime matchups with the Canucks. Luongo is 10-12-3 with a tie and 2.74 GAA in his career when facing the Sharks with a 3.02 GAA in the three games this season. Thornton (1 goal, 3 assists) and Couture (4a) both have four points this season versus the Canucks, while Marleau has scored twice. Daniel and Henrik Sedin have just one assist each over the previous three meetings, while Kesler is pointless. San Joses loss last week to Vancouver was the lone regulation setback of a five-game slide the club snapped on Tuesday in Calgary. The skid featured an overtime setback and three shootout defeats, but the Sharks managed a 3-2 OT triumph against the Flames. It wasnt pretty as the Sharks blew a two-goal lead in the third period, but escaped with the win when Joe Thorntons shot from the right circle deflected off Brad Stuart and into the net at the 1:13 mark of the extra frame. Thornton got his second assist of the game on the play and has six points over his last five games. Patrick Marleau had a goal and an assist, while Logan Couture also scored and backup netminder Alex Stalock only had to make 11 saves for the win. "I liked that we only gave up 13 shots but its not good that we let them get back into the game in the third," said San Jose head coach Todd McLellan. "But if you look at the whole guy, I thought it was a good effort. It would have been nice to have a few more goals, but the defense was sound." San Jose has now split the first two contests of a five-game road trip. ' ' '