The Flames will go as far as the top line takes them. They'll need to be carrying the play a lot more than we've seen from them most of this season, and they'll have to show that they can break through when games get difficult and when they are facing a Vezina calibre goalie and get robbed on many of their chances.
Let's face it -- they haven't showed signs of doing this for a long, long time. It doesn't seem like its very often when that line gets on the ice and strikes fear into the opposition (from an offensive standpoint) anymore. This is an audition for the Johnny/Monahan led version of the Flames. If they are expecting to get through this series with the same casual approach they've had for a long while, the Flames are toast, and there will be significant changes.
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A few weeks after crashing head-first into the boards (denting his helmet and being unable to move for a little while) following a hit from behind by Bob Errey, the Calgary Flames player explains:
"I was like Christ, lying on my back, with my arms outstretched, crucified"
-- Frank Musil - Early January 1994
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