Western Conference Playoffs - Round 2: Flames vs Ducks (Ducks win 4-1)

[Tron_fdc]

Yeah, Vancouver was easy to hate but just wait until Perry cheapshots someone. It's going to take 20 minutes into game one and we will want to burn down the Honda center.

This is going to be a TOUGH series. Anaheim is such a big team, it's really going to come down to matchups and how well we can contain their top line. I don't think we want to match our top guys with their top guys, we probably want Ferland-Jones up against Perry-Getzlaf. Control them, and pick up some goals from our top line when it's up against their bottom paring and we might have a chance. We're also going to have a tough time with their D.....how we control them is another problem.

Who really knows though. We have a better chance of beating them than we did in 04 of beating Detroit, and we all know how that ended up....

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Gaudfather

I just checked and WestJet has return flights to OC (departing Thurs back Sun) for C$300. You could probably go to Anaheim take in two playoff games and with food, hotel and drink come in around $1,200 for a great four day weekend. Wish I could!

You wouldn't want to fly back on Sunday because that's likely when Game 2 will be.

The problem with flying into SNA is that there are no direct flights to/from Calgary, so you lose more time connecting somewhere than you lose in the extra driving time to LAX.

[polak]

I think we win the first game in Anaheim and put all the curse talk to bed.

This is one series where we will really miss Gio but I think we will persevere.

Honestly of all the teams left in the West, I think the Ducks are who I'd want to play the most.

[Meelapo]

Originally Posted by getbak

You wouldn't want to fly back on Sunday because that's likely when Game 2 will be.

The problem with flying into SNA is that there are no direct flights to/from Calgary, so you lose more time connecting somewhere than you lose in the extra driving time to LAX.

Ideally you'd want to go with this. Flights to Orange County go through Vancouver so you'd have to travel to YVR, wait a bit, and then go on the one flight per day to Orange County. Going to LAX and then renting a car might be the quickest route but not the most economical.

[DiracSpike]

We owe Anaheim one. That stupid 3-0 game 7 loss to them in 2006 was almost as big of a gut punch as losing to Tampa was. The team had peak superstar Iggy and Kipper, plus all the great FA acquisitions available after the new CBA. We would have been the highest seed left in the Western Conference and would have played Edmonton, with the potential of stopping their run dead in its tracks and eliminate the one thing Oilers fans can brag about from the last 25 years.

Now the shoe's on the other foot, they're the established team and the Flames are the upstart, I look forward to beating them in their building in game 7.

[skudr248]

Everybody is already counting us out. Flames in 6.

[Gaudfather]

Originally Posted by Meelapo

Ideally you'd want to go with this. Flights to Orange County go through Vancouver so you'd have to travel to YVR, wait a bit, and then go on the one flight per day to Orange County. Going to LAX and then renting a car might be the quickest route but not the most economical.

Yeah I was thinking the first two games would be Thurs nite and Sat nite - but I guess the Honda Center is booked on the Sat nite with a NKOTB concert. So maybe the first two playoff games are Fri nite and Sunday afternoon or nite.

This gives the Flames almost a full week for rest and repair!

[kermitology]

Anaheim is going to be a big test for the Flames. Winnipeg tried to beat the Ducks with the physical game and it blew up on them. I didn't expect the physicality that the Flames put up against the Canucks as they never really played like that in regular season.

Ducks are big, fast, and dangerous. I don't think it'll be a sweep, but I don't see Calgary winning.

Ducks in 6.

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by skudr248

Everybody is already counting us out. Flames in 6.

Haven't won in Anaheim in over a decade... our top player is out... Ducks are bigger and stronger than us...

Flames in 6.

Pretty much what they were saying on CBC the other night too. Flames have no chance, so they'll probably find a way to win it haha.

[Philly06Cup]

Calgary

Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Bennett-Backlund-Colborne
Ferland-Stajan-Jones
Bollig-Jooris-Raymond

Russell-Wideman
Brodie-Engelland
Schlemko-Wotherspoon

Hiller


Anaheim

Maroon-Getzlaf-Perry
Belesky-Kesler-Silfverberg
Cogliano-Rakell-Palmieri
Etem-Fleischmann-Jackman

Lindholm-Beauchemin
Fowler-Despres
Stoner-Vatanen

Andersen

[Gaudfather]

Treliving was just on Hockey Central Fan 590 and his departing comment when asked about whether the series starts on Thursday or Friday was "the later the better for us" - clearly they have some banged up guys that need to heal.

But also very curious as to exactly when we could see someone like Bouma. If he could get back anytime in this series it would be great.

[cannon7]

The Jets were a banged up team going against the Ducks, I think they were playing 8 injured guys, including their most physical players. The Flames top line is finally finding its groove again, so as long as Hartley gets the match-ups we should be in good shape. Our gameplan is definately going to need to revert back to the Flames of the regular season -- that is, play disciplined and smart hockey. But that doesn't mean guys like Ferland can't still rattle the boards when forechecking the Ducks' d-men. That was the key to Canucks' collapse, their D was too preoccupied with being hit. There's a few guys on the Ducks blueline that will definitely lose focus like that.

[Philly06Cup]

Jiri Sekac and James Wisniewski were healthy scratches for Anaheim vs the Jets. That D looks fantastic, given that Wisniewski couldn't crack it. They all average ~20 minutes. Flames D will get tired at some point leaning on 4 guys.

Biggest hole in the Ducks was their lack of scoring depth, but their second line showed up big time vs the Jets. I don't like the Flames' chances.

[Gaudfather]

Originally Posted by Philly06Cup

Jiri Sekac and James Wisniewski were healthy scratches for Anaheim vs the Jets. That D looks fantastic, given that Wisniewski couldn't crack it. They all average ~20 minutes. Flames D will get tired at some point leaning on 4 guys.

Biggest hole in the Ducks was their lack of scoring depth, but their second line showed up big time vs the Jets. I don't like the Flames' chances.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by kermitology

Anaheim is going to be a big test for the Flames. Winnipeg tried to beat the Ducks with the physical game and it blew up on them. I didn't expect the physicality that the Flames put up against the Canucks as they never really played like that in regular season...

I think this is about coaching. The gameplan against Vancouver worked, but Anaheim will require a different approach. The key to the Flames success against the Ducks is not to get into a physical war of attrition; no, this series will be all about speed.

The Flames have been relatively competitive in all their games against Anaheim this season, and have had moments when they gave the Ducks fits by playing a disciplined brand of lightning fast, track-meet hockey. Can it work over the space of a seven game series? That is the question.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Philly06Cup

Jiri Sekac and James Wisniewski were healthy scratches for Anaheim vs the Jets. That D looks fantastic, given that Wisniewski couldn't crack it. They all average ~20 minutes. Flames D will get tired at some point leaning on 4 guys...

Yeah, that's what everyone keeps saying.

[SuperMatt18]

With the Ducks size and speed through all 4 lines I actually wouldn't mind Shore getting onto the 4th line for Raymond.

[squiggs96]

Just release the schedule NHL! I am trying to book flights, tickets and hotels. I got really excited when I saw that my baseball team (SFGiants) are playing the Anaheim Angels that weekend. Unfortunately for me they are playing in SF that weekend.

[skudr248]

Cant wait to see alot of this

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by skudr248

Cant wait to see alot of this

Who wants some ice cream?