Quote:
Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina
The lack of fans may help the Flames in other ways. This isn't a team, in recent years, that has responded well in "big games" when in front of a fired up fan base in their own barn.
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Absence of fans and away games may be factors that lend themselves to some kind of run for the team. It's not out or the question given they were, if I recall, the
top NHL road team since Ward took over. They've also won a lot at Rogers Place specifically recently. They feel good and like playing there.
They're flying completely under the radar but if someone covering the tournament looked into and considered these things they might give the Flames more credit, and even a sight edge going in.
Also factors such as the goalies having elite numbers playing on the road were not but should be considered. Both were brought down by their at home statistics. But they won't be playing there in this tournament. If we're getting their road games which were I think up in the .930s territory then you can't count them out too easily at all.
Don't think enough homework was done on the flames outside of their regular season individual drop offs and their performance against the Avs, both of which overshadowed some underlying positive indicators.
If this were a normal playoff scenario where they'd be playing games at a packed Saddledome then absolutely I'd be wary about giving them my vote but these special circumstances play in their favor given what we know about this team in road situation *this* season.