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Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire
I'm terrible at reading outcomes of standings, so thanks for this Alberta_Beef.
So basically, the chances of facing the Griffins in the first round is very slim. It's most likely that the Heat will take on either Toronto or Chicago, right?
If that's the case, it's a tough call who I'd like them to face.
Chicago has Jake Allen, the best goaltender in the league, so it'd be one hell of a series between him and Ortio. At the same time, when the Heat are "on" they can score in bunches regardless of who's in net. Cundari playing against his former team would be a neat angle. He's one of those guys you'd prefer not to play against haha.
Toronto, on the other hand, have been feeding on tired and beat up teams anytime they come into Ricoh Colosseum. They seem to get so many teams coming off of the second game of a back-to-back or three-in-three. So a healthy, rested Heat team could give the Marlies a run for their money.
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Yes, Griffins is a very slim chance, they need to get no more than 1 point and Chicago needs to win both their games.
There is advantages and disadvantages to all, as well as storylines for each possible opponent too.
Marlies took advantage of tired teams, but have had a .600 winning percentage in each month of the year. They are also Colborne's former team. We tied the season series 2-2.
Wolves have the best goalie in the AHL but the BLues are pretty beat up so they have a bit of a depleted lineup with Jaskin, Cracknell and Porter with the Blues and as you stated there is the Cundari storyline. We never beat the Wolves this year going 0-4, but then again Ortio was with the Flames for each of the match-ups.
The Griffins are defending Champs and been one of the best teams all year and have the #2 goalie in the AHL. But the injuries to the Wings have them without Jurco, Nyqvist, Sheanhan and Glendening and the deadline saw Jarkrok get traded. They are also Billins former team. We went 1-3 against them.
Not that we are slouches. IMO Ortio is the #3 goalie in the AHL this year, we have one of the best offenses and our roster is finally stacked again and for the first time all year will have SOB, Billins, Smith and Breen all on the roster.
It's really a no win situation no matter how we slice it. We needed to finish in the top 3 to get a weaker opponent.