Quote:
Originally Posted by GioforPM
Did he coach the team into the 2nd round or did a team he coached happen to make it into the second round? A lot went right in that first round - Hiller was unreal in 4/5 games before the final game where he got yanked. Ferland pulled a Ferland, which he still does. Scoring from the likes of Bollig, Jones and Russell - it took the Monahan line until the third period of game 3 to get a point, and that was on the PP.
And looking back, Vancouver had a terrible team. The Sedins were pretty done even then and Horvat was a rookie. Calgary was extremely lucky, opponent-wise. I think the could have only beaten the Jets, aside from the Canucks, that year.
GG gets into the second round last year with (a) better goaltending against the Ducks who I think they outplayed, or (b) by playing the Sharks, Wild or Hawks.
|
And a lot went wrong as well. Going in without Giordano and having Brodie-Engelland and Wideman -Russell playing so well isn't by accident. Sure, they were easier, but you can't take that away. They finished 3rd in the division to set-up that match-up.
Hiller did great, and then he didn't and Hartley managed that.
Regardless, that is the second furthest the Flames have made it since the won the cup in '89, and that was a pretty lousy team when you take a gander at the roster.
P.S. They beat the Ducks once too. Ferland was out that series, and it was very apparent that they were over-matched physically and skillfully. That was a pretty lousy roster, and it was an accomplishment just getting that far and beating the Ducks once.