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After hook versus Canucks, Hartley says ‘no question’ Hiller starts against Ducks

Arizona Coyotes v Calgary Flames

Jonas Hiller

NHLI via Getty Images

Calgary goalie Jonas Hiller said he wants “nothing more” than to show his former team “made a mistake” in getting rid of him.

And now, the Flames will oblige.

On Monday, head coach Bob Hartley confirmed that Hiller would be the Game 1 starter when the Flames open their second round series against Anaheim -- the team that Hiller spent the first seven years of his NHL career with, before being allowed to walk last summer in free agency.

Hartley announces starting goalie: “Jonas Hiller no question.”

— Eric Francis (@EricFrancis) April 27, 2015


The questions about Hiller’s starting status came after Calgary’s series-clinching win over Vancouver in Game 6. The Swiss ‘tender was hooked after allowing two goals on three shots in the first eight minutes of action, and Karri Ramo played very well in relief, stopping 17 of 19 shots.

(Hartley later said he apologized to Hiller for the hook in front of the entire Flames team.)

Game 6 wasn’t Ramo’s only action of the series. The Finn also got a brief appearance in a Game 2 loss in Vancouver, making a pair of stops in just under five minutes of action.

The Flames employed a goalie timeshare this season, with Hiller starting 44 games to Ramo’s 32 (Joni Ortio got six.) That’s another reason why Hartley was asked about his starter for the Anaheim series; while he made a pretty definitive statement that Hiller is the No. 1, he also acknowledged he’s more than willing to turn to Ramo if need be.

“I’m very conformable with both goalies,” he said.