If the Blizzard are going to have any kind of success down the stretch and possibly in the playoffs, David Aime is going to have to be the backbone for his club. He was that and then some Tuesday night turning aside all 45 shots as the Blizzard blanked the Swan Valley Stampeders 1-0.

Getting a shutout is never easy let alone doing it against a deep, skilled team like the Stamps but Aime kept the big guns at bay. Aime got plenty of help from his defense and yes there were several breaks that did go in favor of the home side but in the end it was Aime who stole the show and was an easy choice for 1st star last night. I thought the game was a good one to call with plenty of back and forth action and both goaltenders, Aime and Stamps keeper Jayme Janzen, both making big saves at different times.

Curtis Brolund seems to like scoring against the Stamps as he has scored the opening goal in both games this month, with last night's being the lone goal of course. Players like Brolund will have to chip in on nights where the likes of Geddes, Kimpinski, Constant and Hebert don't find the net.

Aside from Aime's stellar play, the job the Blizzard did to contain the line of Gray-Stevens-Reimer was superb as well. When that line has their way, the Stamps win. But the 2 times the Blizzard have beaten the Stamps, that line has been kept quiet. Can the Blizzard accomplish such a feat 2 nights in a row? If Aime plays the same way and the Blizzard get a little more scoring it is certainly possible.

Tonight's rematch is on CJ 1240 tonight beginning with the Murray Dunn GM Pre-Game Show at 7:10.

-Smalley-