Well here we are, in a Conference Semi-Final series against the best team in the West, the Anaheim Ducks. Now facing elimination, we head to the most unlucky building for this team, where we have not won this year, and for many years in the past as well. Sounds like the ultimate underdog narrative to me, which bodes well for a team that has found a way in crunch time. All this in a year where we were supposed to be in the bottom 3 in the league. Instead, we are one of the elite 8, without losing any draft picks, but rather picking up a few to have 4 picks in the first 2 rounds in the upcoming draft. This adds to one of the top prospect pools in the entire NHL right now (recently ranked 2nd by Hockey's Future). With a roster full of burgeoning young stars like Monahan, Gaudreau, Bennett, Brodie; excellent depth players like Backlund, Colborne, Bouma, Ferland; and key veterans who are still in their prime like Giordano, Russell, Wideman, and Hudler, this is clearly a team that will be competitive and entertaining for years to come. They aren't anywhere near their peak yet, and still they're hanging in there with an elite powerhouse team like the Ducks who are built perfectly for the playoffs. What a revelation this year has been.
This is all a huge silver lining for us as things look grim in this series. I'm not counting out the Flames yet, but the Ducks seem to have that killer instinct this year, which means they are very unlikely to lose 3 games in a row. I don't know if the Flames can have the same energy they did in front of a raucous home crowd, but if game 2 was any indication we know that the Flames can actually play well in that building. Execution and capitalizing on chances have been the only thing that separated these teams so far in this series, that is if you throw out game 1. That just comes with experience, which the Flames are getting a ton of this year. That experience will be invaluable for years to come, but the learning curve is probably just a little too steep this year to overcome the odds facing them at the moment. That being said, I think the Flames find a way to win a tight-checking game tonight, and reward the fans with one more game at home. There's too much heart in this team to go away quietly. IF the Ducks do win tonight, it'll likely take their best game of the playoffs to do so.
Bob Hartley wants his team to "shock the hockey world" tonight and in this series, giving them inspiration to possibly make a comeback. The Flames have fed off this underdog energy all year long, and when things look bleakest, that's when the Flames have come up big. I would love nothing more than for the Flames to continue that trend tonight. Play disciplined and focused and things are likely to go well. Play too loose and careless and your year comes to an end. However this all goes down, just make sure that the Ducks have to earn every second of this game. There is absolutely no shame in losing a series to a team like this.
Roster Notes: There doesn't seem to be any imminent changes for the Flames. No more injured players are due back any time soon, and the roster that played the other night is likely to be the same. My own thought is that Jooris will be back in the lineup for Raymond, but that's purely speculation. Boudreau had mediocre reviews of Fleischmann's game, so it's possible that you see Etem or Sekac back in the lineup.
p.s.-IF today is the last game day thread I write for the year, I just want to say what an absolute privilege it has been to have this responsibility this season. It's been incredibly fun to write these all year, and the overwhelmingly positive response that I've received from all of you has been much appreciated. It's especially appreciated because I know just how knowledgable and critical the group on CP is. Thank you all, and I hope I get to do at least one more of these this year. Cheers!
GO FLAMES GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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"You know, that's kinda why I came here, to show that I don't suck that much" ~ Devin Cooley, Professional Goaltender
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Great Writeup for the GDT, look forward to you and sureloss carrying the torch every Game day! Not much left to say here. Just win. Show those dirty #######s how to win without insane amount of interference. No giveaways in your own zone today please, Johnny. Oh, and more dizzying, insane defence-splitting plays like the first goal on Friday, please. Go Flames go!
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GO FLAMES GO. That is all.
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__________________ "In brightest day, in blackest night / No evil shall escape my sight / Let those who worship evil's might / Beware my power, Green Lantern's light!"
Location: Wondering when # became hashtag and not a number sign.
Exp:
Hoping the Flames pull one out 3-2 or somewhere in that area, but fully expecting the Ducks to put their collective foot on the Flames throat and a 5-2 victory.
And I have no qualms about it either. Been a remarkable season on so many different levels and the future bodes well.
Taking the kids to day 2 at Disney today and then heading to the game with them later. They're both wearing their Gaudreau T-shirts, and I'm told by my 7-year old that the Flames are going to win tonight.
I don't know how she knows, but I have no reason to think she isn't telling the truth.
The Following 35 Users Say Thank You to Iowa_Flames_Fan For This Useful Post:
Great write-up and exactly my thoughts! For me, the sadness in a potential end to the season rests not in the season's end itself, because expectations have been greatly exceeded.
The sadness rests in not being able just to watch this team play!
Fun, fast style and an amazing group of players. Come on boys--keep it rolling a little bit longer! GFG!
Hoping the Flames pull one out 3-2 or somewhere in that area, but fully expecting the Ducks to put their collective foot on the Flames throat and a 5-2 victory.
And I have no qualms about it either. Been a remarkable season on so many different levels and the future bodes well.
I hope this is some sort of reverse/opposite jinx, or something...
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Until the Flames make the Western Finals again, this signature shall remain frozen.
Round 2 Game 5, Flames @ Ducks, 8 pm, SN, NBCSN, TVA
