If there is a Battle vs Chicago...

[DSIM420]

Flames win in 4!

[Huntingwhale]

Anaheim is the worst match up for Calgary. They push us around, get into our heads, Kesler always comes up huge, and they really throw the Flames off their game. Anaheim always coaxes the Flames to play Ducks hockey, and that never suits the Flames. Calgary has never been able to impose their will on the Ducks.

Chicago is a powerhouse, but we match up way better. Elliott beat them with the Blues last season. The Hawks play more of a speed/skating game which suits the Flames style much better.

Flames haven't won in Anaheim in over 14 years. Flames have won at the United Center in 3 of the past 4 seasons. I know exactly who I prefer to play in round 1.

[Stanley]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Anaheim is the worst match up for Calgary. They push us around, get into our heads, Kesler always comes up huge, and they really throw the Flames off their game. Anaheim always coaxes the Flames to play Ducks hockey, and that never suits the Flames. Calgary has never been able to impose their will on the Ducks.

Chicago is a powerhouse, but we match up way better. Elliott beat them with the Blues last season. The Hawks play more of a speed/skating game which suits the Flames style much better.

Flames haven't won in Anaheim in over 14 years. Flames have won at the United Center in 3 of the past 4 seasons. I know exactly who I prefer to play in round 1.

I totally agree. Hence why I won't be so angry if this California road trip goes south (no PUN intended).
Although I also want them to end the season on a high note.
(sigh)

Then again...how f-ing sweet would it be to beat the Ducks in the 1st round?! Hey, ya never know...

[Ryan Coke]

Yeah, the more I think about it the more I think I'd actually prefer the Hawks matchup.

It would be fitting, thinking back to 2009 when the young Hawks team was just emerging into the scene and beat the older Flames team. It would be cool to try to do the turnabout as the Flames try to establish themselves as contenders, and have the battles of Gaudreau vs. Kane, Monahan vs. Toews, Keith and Seabrook vs. Gio, Brodie, and Hamilton.

It'd be a fun matchup.

[EldrickOnIce]

Interesting part of beating the Hawks in Round 1 means playing the winner of Wild vs StL/NSH in round 2.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Interesting part of beating the Hawks in Round 1 means playing the winner of Wild vs StL/NSH in round 2.

I like their chances against all three of those potential second round opponents.

Problem is the 'big boss' would come first. Will have to pull out some kind of series.

[Badgers Nose]

Against CHI? I'd say 5 and Flames are out.

[Magnum PEI]

If Elliott plays like he has been I think we can beat Chicago. We dont match up well against the Oil and Ducks.

[Dion]

This is the series I would perfer to watch. Skill on skill and none of the cheap stuff you would see in an Anahiem type series.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Win or lose I think a series vs. Chicago would be infinitely more entertaining than a series vs. Anaheim. Faster, less frustrating, fewer opponents that you want to see punched in the face, a chance to actually win in their building etc.

Agreed, I just don't like watching us play the Ducks (or the Kings).

1. the game gets chippy, which is fine, but

2. for whatever reason, those teams can still score and play and win when the game gets like that, but the Flames unravel and can't.

3. I don't want to look at Bieksa, Thompson, Kesler, Getzlaf, Perry, Ritchie, and so on.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Win or lose I think a series vs. Chicago would be infinitely more entertaining than a series vs. Anaheim. Faster, less frustrating, fewer opponents that you want to see punched in the face, a chance to actually win in their building etc.

Totally. Even the thought of taking on the Ducks in a series next week is making me aggravated. Boring, take lots of late cheap hacks, they got our number, freakin Kesler...just please god no.

Hawks in an entertaining 7

[Hockey]

I say Hawks in 4.

[Yrebmi]

I like Hawks over Ducks but that is it.
I think the Hawks beat us, but if Flames can survive the Hawks then we can go deep. Ducks play dirty and any team that plays that series will likely go down in the 2nd round if not the first (and that includes the Ducks themselves)
Sharks would be the easiest opponent especially with Thornton out now, then the Oils.

[Rollin22x]

Flames in 7
If we win, we beat the Hawks.
If we lose, oh well it was against the hawks.
I think the Flames would really elevate their game.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Magnum PEI

If Elliott plays like he has been I think we can beat Chicago. We dont match up well against the Oil and Ducks.

Okay, let's get this right now...

We match up well against the Oil - depth and experience

We don't match up well against the Ducks - strength, grit, Honda centre

We match up marginally better against the Hawks - Elliott, skill game

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Much rather play CHI than ANA or EDM in the first round.

I been saying this for a bit now even though I think Chicago is the favs to win the cup

1. Toews is better than Kesler but he isn't a dirty player. Would rather see Johnny deal with him for a series than Kesler. Or it's Edmonton and even though the Flames played Edmonton at the worst time this year I think they would be favored to win and not sure I could stand losing to them

2. Great experience to play a team that has won 3 cups

3. Best time to beat a team like Chicago is first round. Once they getting going good luck. If you do pull of the upset Minnesota is not playing well and have some key young guys with little experience. If Stl wins, Jake Allen has a been god awful in the playoffs. Maybe winning a series will change that for him but he could have a melt down at any time

[direwolf]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

I been saying this for a bit now even though I think Chicago is the favs to win the cup

1. Toews is better than Kesler but he isn't a dirty player. Would rather see Johnny deal with him for a series than Kesler. Or it's Edmonton and even though the Flames played Edmonton at the worst time this year I think they would be favored to win and not sure I could stand losing to them

A series against the Oilers would mean a CBC/Sportsnet McDavid circle jerk for almost two solid weeks. Watching just one game with that stuff is already annoying as f---. Can you imagine being forced to endure 7 games of that crap? It would likely go down as the most irritating broadcast in the history of the NHL playoffs.

That being said, the Oilers are probably the Flames' best shot at getting out of round 1 simply due to our superior depth, better D, and equal (if not better) goaltending. But yea, I'd almost rather play the Hawks just to avoid the inevitable Oiler love fest.

[Da_Chief]

Series vs Hawks would put the Flames in prime time slots. We might lose but at least it wont be stupid scheduling we're likely to get with leafs, habs and mcdavids being in the playoffs.

It will be uber entertaining too.

[activeStick]

Yeah, the brand of hockey will produce better games if Calgary plays Chicago vs. Anaheim. Both teams the Flames are equally in tough against though. If it's Chicago, Flames in 7!

[Manhattanboy]

Originally Posted by direwolf

A series against the Oilers would mean a CBC/Sportsnet McDavid circle jerk for almost two solid weeks. Watching just one game with that stuff is already annoying as f---. Can you imagine being forced to endure 7 games of that crap? It would likely go down as the most irritating broadcast in the history of the NHL playoffs.

That being said, the Oilers are probably the Flames' best shot at getting out of round 1 simply due to our superior depth, better D, and equal (if not better) goaltending. But yea, I'd almost rather play the Hawks just to avoid the inevitable Oiler love fest.

Haha I totally agree. Remember the infamous Legend of Eddie Lack after just one game? CBC/Sportsnet are cringeworthy. I wonder if NBCSN would broadcast an all Canadian series. And if they did, how to receive their telecast?