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

[handgroen]

took the loss last night pretty hard as i thought the team played well enough to win.
But after taking enough time to digest the loss, what we have here, is really a winner's dilemma.

we either:

only have at most a couple games left until we wake up from this beautiful dream. then next year we go into training camp with the peoples norris trophy winner in-tow. all the while having grown the team culture throughout a succesful playoff run. A run due in large part to the flames U-23 crowd, and an under-valuated d-core w/o the captain. despite assuming the defacto #1 status, TJ brodie is still plus 2 this playoff run BTW.
great year, great ride, what's next?

or

the clock strikes 12:00 and no one turns into pumpkins, we win in the pond, because the flames feel equal to the task, and the play has been evenly contested so far.
the curse dies a fitting death, and then all bets are off. we could even introduce the blackhawks to their younger doppelganger, complete with surprise appearance by our captain and best player, allstar mark giordano.

either, or, sits very well with me.

flames hockey, notice has been served.

[Igster]

Can't post in the GDT because it seems whenever I do, the Flames lose. I posted in the thread last time by mistake. Not this time. I truly believe the Flames will break the curse tonight. This series goes 7. GFG!

Edit: Superstitions are silly, but why take the chance? Anything to help the Flames win.

[Scary Eloranta]

Perry is the classic boy who called wolf. It's going to come back to bite him in the ass one day - just watch.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Scary Eloranta

Perry is the classic boy who called wolf. It's going to come back to bite him in the ass one day - just watch.

He's very easy to dislike that's for sure. Even his face is hateful. I wonder if his mother likes him?

[bubbsy]

If i had to sum up why the ducks won the series in such a convincing manner i'd put it to one word "pressure".

They contested every single puck, especially in the flames zone, where they had a guy, not just a waive of the stick, but a body going into the puck and whichever flame was there, to win that puck. The flames just didn't have any easy pucks, even fewer clean breakouts with speed, and were forced to turn over what seemed like 50% of every clearing attempt made.

Given how well they played, i'd really want to cheer for the ducks to take it this year, but i just can never support any team with a hack like kesler on it, so think i'll be rooting for the hawks to bounce them.

Congratulations to the Calgary Flames, Bob Hartley, and basically every player. They were great. I hope they are able to celebrate this season's amazing acheivement yet come back hungrier.

I think it will extremely difficult to repeat this year's heroic results, but if there's a coach and a core than can do it, it's them.

Really curious what the offseason brings and what % of roster turnaround we are likely to see... Ramo/hiller/ortio? raymond/jones/etc? depth dmen diaz/schlemko? Do they spend some dough to round out the top6 d, or bring in more size up front?

Can't wait till the draft!

[Geeoff]

One thing our guys learned, hopefully, it's that if you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'. Interference, hooking, holding and tripping are barely called in the playoffs. No matter how dirty one team plays, they will try to keep the penalties even for both teams. The Ducks have been here so many times, they just play like that naturally.

[JohnnySkittles]

Lost in second round, not even mad. Been crazy busy with work so I've been relying on PVR and not having the score spoiled for me the next day, wasn't exactly perfect. Nevertheless it was an unbelievable season, it's amazing how far this teams outlook has changed in only ~2 seasons. We were told it would be a long and painful rebuild, now? Monahan, Gaudreau, Bennett, Brodie, Ferland, Bouma, etc, our future hasn't looked this bright in a long time and this experience will definitely help all our young core guys.