Re: Facing Vegas instead of St. Louis, Dallas, or Colorado. St. Louis is more likely gonna finish 3rd in the Central or higher so no worries there. Currently 5 points up on Dallas with 20 games to go. Not insurmountable, but a tough road.
The more likely matchups would be Dallas, Colorado, Minnesota, or Arizona. All of those teams, with the exception of Dallas, struggle against the Flames. I would take Minnesota or Colorado in a heartbeat over Vegas. Flames seem to get good results both at home and on the road against those squads.
Dallas is a different story. Their top guys run show when we match up and that could be hard to deal with. But they still bleed goals. If Bishop is anything less than pure grade A, the Flames likely take that one too with the more balanced line up. Without the D support, it'll be tough for him to steal enough games through a 6 or 7 game series.
Now Vegas might be struggling but the Flames have had a rough ride against them so far. Fleury seems to really turn it on for the Flames, and this is a team that despite everything battled through 4 series last year. Who knows what they'll do in the post season but I guarantee they'll find a different gear. I'd rather they find it against San Jose, and the Flames can match up against a battered version one or the other with home ice secured.
This all is putting the cart before the horse without a doubt, and its assuming the Flames can sort out their own question marks. If goaltending falters or the top lines can't turn it on again, it won't matter too much who they match up against.
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