Do you prefer Anaheim or Chicago in Round 1?

[jg13]

Mods can we please add a poll to this thread?

Who would you rather face and why? As you can see there is a 90% chance we will face Chicago or Anaheim in Round 1 with the odds practically even.

[blender]

No difference IMO. Top tier teams that are a measuring stick for the Flames Rebuild.
Bring on the Playoffs.

It is FUN to have my team in the playoffs!

[N-E-B]

Flames/Ducks would be more entertaining but I think they match up better against the Blackhawks. I also think the road to the third round is easier in the Central than the Pacific so I'll say Chicago.

[handgroen]

ducks

what's in the way becomes the way

[dammage79]

Chicago all day long. Flames are better matched to the Hawks.

[Canada 02]

Elliott has a good record vs the Hawks, bad record vs the Ducks

[JurassicTunga12]

Either or. Gonna have to beat one of these teams to go all the way anyway. We've played both teams well for the most part this year even if we were on the losing end(love that 8-3 beating of Anaheim though). If we can get past that honda center curse or beat Chicago? We are probably looking really good and I wouldn't be surprised to see the Flames go deep. Obviously unlikely, but you have to beat good teams to make it. I'm not 'scared' of either team. Bring em on, I say. If I had to pick one though? Chicago, because we've won in their building in recent times and they don't play such an annoying game. It would be a fun, fast, skilled series to watch and hopefully a close one(or the Flames can sweep them too If they want. That'd be cool too).

[SOMBRI2]

I am not going to back down by the physicality of the Ducks but I think this young Flames team needs to play the Hawks to keep their heads on the game.

Either is a tough match-up and it is inevitable for the Flames to learn from it before long term playoff success to happen.

Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk

[codynw]

Chicago, not even a discussion IMO.

[btimbit]

Hawks

Match up better and would be much better/less frustrating hockey .

[TheScorpion]

Chicago by the widest of margins.

[GranteedEV]

I prefer the Ducks. Five reasons:

5) We may not have won in the Honda Center, but they are cursed in game 7s at the Honda Center themselves.

4) Bennett is starting to show he can check a guy like Kesler. Could get Monahan away from that matchup if push came to shove.

3) Their blue line is depleted. Lindholm is elite. Fowler is excellent. Vatanen is an offensive beast. None of them are locks to play.

2) Quenneville will take Gulutzan to the dry cleaners. Carlyle is an idiot who managed to lose a game 7 with, what was it, a 3 goal lead?

1) They are our Bad Boy Pistons and if we make it through them then I wouldn't even be worried about the Capitals or Penguins in the SCF.

[kirant]

Chicago -> Wild -> Oilers seems like the easiest way out of the conference. Not likely by any stretch of the imagination (and not banking on Sharks finding their game again) but the best shot.

The Flames match up better against Chicago than they do the Ducks purely because the Ducks just get under the Flames' skin. Chicago isn't nearly as physical either which means they won't be tempted to get into a tussle like tonight.

The Wild seem to struggle against the Flames so it's not a bad match up. Dubnyk has struggled recently so it might be possible to catch the team off guard.

That would leave the winner of the Pacific. I don't think Nashville gets out. Edmonton will cruise through SJ and could take Anaheim in 7.

[djsFlames]

Chicago.

Even though there are few things I would rather see more than beating Anaheim. But it's just too unlikely. Everything goes there way when games are on the line.

[blender]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I prefer the Ducks. Five reasons:

5) We may not have won in the Honda Center, but they are cursed in game 7s at the Honda Center themselves.

4) Bennett is starting to show he can check a guy like Kesler. Could get Monahan away from that matchup if push came to shove.

3) Their blue line is depleted. Lindholm is elite. Fowler is excellent. Vatanen is an offensive beast. None of them are locks to play.

2) Quenneville will take Gulutzan to the dry cleaners. Carlyle is an idiot who managed to lose a game 7 with, what was it, a 3 goal lead?

1) They are our Bad Boy Pistons and if we make it through them then I wouldn't even be worried about the Capitals or Penguins in the SCF.

Very good point.

[Toonage]

Chicago. Made my case in the battle vs. Chicago thread. Fewer Hawks I want to see punched in the face. The pace would be faster more suited to the Flames. Plus the Flames have won in that building recently.

[Oil Stain]

Ducks being down their top three D-men would make me want to face them.

As soon as I saw Fowler go down I was trying to figure out if it was possible or the Oilers to face them.

Sure the Flames are "cursed" in the Honda center, but playing a 7 game series without their top 3 d-men is going to catch up to the Ducks.

Flames staying in the div also sets things up nicely for a Battle of Alberta round two should they both happen to win their respective series.

[Manhattanboy]

It might well come to down to which team you would prefer to play (in their building) in a Game 7. I am thinking Chicago.

[jg13]

Does anyone know how long term Vatenen and Lindholms current injuries are?

[Wolfman]

Well Nashville plays Dallas and Winnipeg to finish off they're season. I could see them leap frogging the Flames.