[GDT] Game 3, Flames vs. Ducks, 7:30 pm, SN, USA, TVA

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Ducks lead best of 7 series 2-0.


One picture is all that's necessary as far as I'm concerned. An early goal was all the Ducks needed yet again at the Honda Center. A dominant first period by the Ducks gave them just enough to take a 2-0 series lead. Now this series is far from over, but the Ducks have taken control so far without much pushback from the Flames. Yes, there was a better effort in the 2nd and 3rd, and you could see the Flames finally figure out their gameplan again, but it might already be too little too late when you're playing a team like the Ducks. You could see it in the last game; the Flames will still likely make a game of it the rest of the way, but the Ducks are too strong and too consistent in every area of the game to have a collapse big enough to lose this series.

You are probably all saying that I'm being pessimistic. No, not really, just being a realist. Talk to me after the Ducks actually lose a playoff game, as they are unbeaten so far in the playoffs, lest we forget. The Ducks are much farther along than us developmentally, and are primed for a deep playoff run with a nearly healthy roster, saving their best hockey of the season for the playoffs. We, on the other hand, are an upstart, plucky group, that has played well, but have definitely had positive results above what our talent and experience level would indicate. That's not even considering the growing list of injured and walking wounded. Not an excuse, but there's much less depth in our organization to compensate for losses. Even players like Ferland, who was an injury replacement that not only filled the gap, but played exceptionally well, have been hit by injuries. You can only deal with so much before the effectiveness of your roster falls apart. We have been seeing that breaking point the last two games, as the Ducks have piled on our physical woes with incredibly physical play. There's no shame in losing in this situation, but we can at least hope for the Flames to go down swinging. Make Anaheim earn every second of every game. If they can do that the rest of the way I'll be extremely satisfied.

All that being said, this Flames team has surprised me all year long, and when their backs were against the wall they've responded. Tonight is a "must-win" game for many reasons. You have to win on home ice to have success in the playoffs, even if just for psychological reasons. Not only that, a loss would put the Flames down 3-0, and that would be pretty much it for the season at that point. This has to be their most consistent and focused effort of the series tonight. Do that, and they have a fighting chance. Run around with their heads cut off like they did through the first 4 periods, and this is going to be a quick series.

Roster Notes: John Gibson is still out "sick", and is unlikely to play tonight, not that it matters much with Andersen playing well. The Flames have a lot of actual injuries and player playing with injuries to deal with. There's been little to no news of any roster changes, but I wouldn't be shocked to see Diaz in tonight to try and help out the 3rd pairing. After such a strong performance from Ramo, expect to see him in net again. Flames lineup is a guess at best.


Flames
Bennett-Monahan-Hudler
Gaudreau-Backlund-Jones
Ferland/Raymond-Stajan-Colborne
Raymond/Granlund/Wolf-Jooris-Bollig

Russell-Wideman
Brodie-Engelland
Diaz-Schlemko

Ramo


Ducks
Maroon-Getzlaf-Perry
Beleskey-Kesler-Silfverberg
Cogliano-Rakell-Palmieri
Etem-Thompson-Jackman

Lindholm-Beauchemin
Fowler-Despres
Stoner-Vatanen

Andersen







GO FLAMES GO!!!!!!!!

[Locke]

Just win.

Lets light 'em up.

[NewFan]

Let's start winning. Go Flames Go!

[socalwingfan]

I predict Bennett gets the first and last goal tonight with an assist for good measure in a 4-2 Flames win

[FFFLife]

Biggest 2 points of the season!

GO FLAMES GO!!

[sureLoss]

Roger Millions @RogMillions
Micheal Ferland taking morning skate for #Flames

[ssjshmo]

Can't emphasize this enough...
Must win. HUGE 2 points on the line!

[sureLoss]

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
#Flames morning skate underway. Ferland, Diaz, Giordano all out there this morning.

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
Everyone accounted for this morning that should be. No sign of Bouma, however. #Flames

Roger Millions @RogMillions
#Flames Bob Hartley spent about 5 mins at Centre Ice chatting with David Wolf ..in or out?

[united]

As many have posted in the ticket thread, there is still tons of tickets available on TicketMaster and nobody is getting hits on CP's resale forum or other ticket resale sites. Come on, Calgary! I can't believe so many people outside CP have given up already. Sad.

[GeoRock]

Pat Steinberg ‏@Fan960Steinberg 2 minutes ago
#Flames morning skate underway. Ferland, Diaz, Giordano all out there this morning.

I sure hope Ferland is back in. Could really use the edge with home crowd support.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by GeoRock

I sure hope Ferland is back in. Could really use the edge with home crowd support.

I agree. Wolf just doesn't skate well enough to make an impact like Ferland.

[Samiz]

I'm not sure if this has been discussed, but is there any possibility that Hartley is trying to mislead everyone by saying Gio is really far away from being ready to play?

[heep223]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
Everyone accounted for this morning that should be. No sign of Bouma, however. #Flames

[flambers]

Originally Posted by GeoRock

I sure hope Ferland is back in.

Agreed, I thought the Flames wingers were highly in-effective in the first two games.

Ducks are winning all of the battles on the boards

[Neeper]

Originally Posted by united

As many have posted in the ticket thread, there is still tons of tickets available on TicketMaster and nobody is getting hits on CP's resale forum or other ticket resale sites. Come on, Calgary! I can't believe so many people outside CP have given up already. Sad.

So true! Come Calgary! Our team needs us. Let's get the dome rocking tonight!

[MrMastodonFarm]

Could really use some surprise goals here tonight. Is Raymond due for a 6 goal in 4 game stretch?

[sureLoss]

morning skate has Ferland in Wolf out. Diaz in Wotherspoon out

Derek Wills @Fan960Wills
#Flames projected lines for Game 3:
Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Bennett-Backlund-Colborne
Ferland-Stajan-Jones
Bollig-Jooris-Raymond
#ANAvsCGY

Derek Wills @Fan960Wills
#Flames projected pairings for Game 3:
Russell-Wideman
Brodie-Engelland
Schlemko-Diaz

Goaltenders:
Ramo (Starter)
Hiller

#ANAvsCGY

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Robbob

I agree. Wolf just doesn't skate well enough to make an impact like Ferland.

I would rather see Granlund in the lineup than Wolf as he didn't add anything Sunday. If he's in the lineup he needs to be laying some big hits and being physical but we really didn't see that.

Glad Hartley is keeping the 1st line together as it was a mistake to break them up on Sunday. They haven't played well but you have to go with the combinations that got them into the playoffs in the first place.

[heep223]

Good news on Ferly and Diaz. Wolf could slot in nicely on that bottom line RW....though Raymond has played pretty well.

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I would rather see Granlund in the lineup than Wolf as he didn't add anything Sunday. If he's in the lineup he needs to be laying some big hits and being physical but we really didn't see that.

I think he was trying...but maybe a bit too hard. And he's not a good enough skater like Ferland is.

[Vinny01]

Good to have Diaz back in the lineup. Hopefully he can play 10-12 minutes