I actually think this is going to be a fun series to watch. Say what you will about the Avs, but they are not a boring team. They move the puck really quick - you expect both teams to tighten-up defensively during the playoffs, but I bet you will still see some run-and-gun hockey with wide-open chances both ways through stretches. I also look forward to start hating them. I hate most of the western conference teams, but for some odd reason, I like the Avs. I am sure I will start hating them by the end of game 1, win or lose.
I do think that the Vegas-SJ series and the Winnipeg-St. Louis series are going to be absolute battles - the kind of hockey you expect and love in the playoffs, but the Flames-Avs might have the best end-to-end action out of any series. I think the Avalanche put up a bigger fight than most expect here - they are absolutely rolling and coming in with a tonne of confidence. Grubauer has been exceptional, and Varlamov has a track record of being very good as well, even if he hasn't quite been that this year. This is a team coming in and feeling like they can upset. I still say the Flames in 6, but this is going to be a closer series than I think people are going to expect.
Can't wait!
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