Do you prefer Anaheim or Chicago in Round 1?

[ComixZone]

I just see the Ducks as the perfect first round match up. If the Flames can knock the Ducks out, think of the team's morale at the end of that series. They'll have gone through a war and won. If the Flames can beat the Ducks, I'm thinking it's going to be one hell of a spring for the Flames.

[Phaneufenstein]

Originally Posted by polak

we have Elliot?

Yes, but will he be as good?

[EldrickOnIce]

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by dino7c

6pm starts suck for me...also, noon on sundays

Are there rough schedules coming together yet?

[dino7c]

Ducks
Oilers
Sharks
Flames

All have 45 wins this year

Calgary started 5-10 and have been better than every one of these teams the majority of the season (November on)

Its really a great position coming in as the underdog IMO when the reality is these teams are all pretty darn even

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by rohara66

Are there rough schedules coming together yet?

not that I know of...Chicago will be early starts though and they seem to get afternoon games being of the the biggest draws in the US market

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by dino7c

not that I know of...Chicago will be early starts though and they seem to get afternoon games being of the the biggest draws in the US market

That is an excellent point and one I haven't thought of up to now (afternoon games). When weighing the pros/cons of a series against Chicago, to me, thats a big con.

[moncton golden flames]

i prefer anaheim because the road to round 3 appears to be easier in the pacific than the central.

[jg13]

Looks like we're leaning towards playing Anaheim. If we lose the final game of the season flip a coin basically

[Geeoff]

I like the potential to erase the Honda centre curse.

[Ducay]

Just looking at highlights of the beating Ana laid on Chicago, I'm even more convinced we need to drop tomorrow's game vs SJS. I'd rather a tougher round 2 matchup in the Central than deal with Anaheim to start.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Ducks
Oilers
Sharks
Flames

All have 45 wins this year

Calgary started 5-10 and have been better than every one of these teams the majority of the season (November on)

Its really a great position coming in as the underdog IMO when the reality is these teams are all pretty darn even

In record but the Flames are the only one of the four hovering at about .500 within the division. The Flames have played the Sharks pretty even but have not been really competitive with the Oilers or Ducks. I'm not too concerned about the record vs the Oilers as the Flames would probably have a losing record against any team that was fortunate enough to catch them on games one and two of the season but you can always throw the records out the door when it comes to Ducks and Flames because the Ducks simply own them. I don't mind facing the Ducks in the first round because the Flames will have to slay that dragon if they are ever going to take the next step in ascending to Cup contender so may as well face their demon this season where they don't have Stanley cup aspirations.

[jg13]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Just looking at highlights of the beating Ana laid on Chicago, I'm even more convinced we need to drop tomorrow's game vs SJS. I'd rather a tougher round 2 matchup in the Central than deal with Anaheim to start.

Chicago has locked up the entire Western conference. They also lost to Colorado a couple days ago. They're resting players while Anaheim is trying to lock up the Pacific.

I wouldn't buy into that game last night too much.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Just looking at highlights of the beating Ana laid on Chicago, I'm even more convinced we need to drop tomorrow's game vs SJS. I'd rather a tougher round 2 matchup in the Central than deal with Anaheim to start.

You realize the Hawks rested all their top players right?

[jg13]

[Chell_King]

I see a comparable of the Flames Hatred For Anaheim to the Canucks hatred of Chicago 5 years ago.

[Vulcan]

I heard somewhere that the Ducks planned the season to start out slow and peak for the playoffs so they wouldn't have their usual collapse. It looks like they are accomplishing that. I'm not really sure who I want to play but if we win we'll probably have fewer beat up players after a series against Chicago.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I heard somewhere that the Ducks planned the season to start out slow and peak for the playoffs so they wouldn't have their usual collapse. It looks like they are accomplishing that. I'm not really sure who I want to play but if we win we'll probably have fewer beat up players after a series against Chicago.

...that was just Bieksa joking around on the Jim Rome show. They didn't actually plan to start slow...

[Darkknight]

They will also be missing Ritchie for the first game of the playoffs. Pretty solid blow to their top 6 also.

[PeteMoss]

Anyone picking Chicago just haven't seen them play recently because the Flames haven't played them in ages. They are the better team and have a much better coach.