[PST] Playoff Series Thread: Ducks (1st Pacific) vs Flames (1st Wild Card)

[FlamesFanStrandedInEDM]

I have 10 pieces of silver for anyone travelling to Anaheim that can bring back this mans hands...

[IMG][/IMG]

[polak]

Originally Posted by Gaudfather

Winners in the playoffs are determined by who steps up. For the Flames to be successful they need everyone throughout their lineup to play a meaningful role. Monahan, Ferland, Stajan, Brouwer, Bouma all need to become bigger factors. On the back end we need TJ Brodie to find a new gear and for Bartkowski to play physical without any mental lapses.

Flames can take the Ducks, but only if everyone does their part.

This is key.

Flames are totally capable but we haven't seen it since the streak ended. The reason I said I was confident was cause I believe playoffs will be enough to wake them up and have them playing at that level again.

If they can't wake up for the playoffs then it'll be concerning. Last time around they were a fresh rebuilding team with little experience and got pushed around by the Ducks. This time that's not an excuse.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Monahan finished the season with a whimper. Sure hope it's maintenance issues cause I was underwhelmed after that first game against the Ducks.

Yeah not sure if it was injury or the fact that he's just a streaky player but he was hot for a month and then went invisible.

[MissTeeks]

[sa226]

I get the pessimism, I really do. Curse and matchup aside, the Ducks are a very good hockey team. But so are the Flames.

I like those articles that Missteeks posted and the comments from Reggie, Lanny et al. When it comes time for the playoffs, the stats don't matter anymore. I'm not sure momentum does either. The ramping up of the intensity and everything else erases all that stuff.

What I like about this years' team is that for the first time in a long time, I believe the team matches the sum of its parts. They play great as a team, but they also have very good individual players that can impact a single game. We saw that around the 10 game streak.

Elliott can conceivably steal a series, Giordano can go into beast mode, Dougie brings his Boston experience and can dominate a game on his own. Gaudreau can change a game in an instant. The 3M line has carried this team all year, no reason to stop now, and I think Bennett is an X factor. Also, I think these playoffs with answer the Bouma question. Has he changed his game in an attempt to stay healthy? Only to lay it all on the line in the playoffs? Or is his young career dwindling before our very eyes?

Ferland could also be an X factor on that top line. He could be that wrecking ball that creates space, or he could be the up and down guy we have seen all year.

If the Flames' get goaded into the Ducks way of doing things, I think its over in 5. If the Flames can stick to their game I think they could take it in 6 or 7.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Call me nuts, but I'm very keen to see what Lance Bouma, with almost a week of rest, can do in the playoffs.

He was also injured last time and barely played 2 games. He should be fired up. Bouma of 2 years ago would be a huge upgrade in the bottom 6.

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

He was also injured last time and barely played 2 games. He should be fired up. Bouma of 2 years ago would be a huge upgrade in the bottom 6.

Hathaway would be a huge upgrade to what Bouma brings to the 4th line this year.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by FlamesFanStrandedInEDM

I have 10 pieces of silver for anyone travelling to Anaheim that can bring back this mans hands...

[IMG][/IMG]

I'll see what I can do. I'm gonna do that after every Flames goal, see if I end up on TV..

[JohnnyTitan]

I agree that the Flames really need to win one of the first two.

But what they REALLY need to do is compete. Not like Game #1 in 2015 where they got blown out. They can afford to lose game 1...but they have to prove they belong. At least make it close. Lead for a while or force over-time or get the Ducks on their heels for a period.

Of course best-case is just to go out and win big right away!!!

[Puppet Guy]

Originally Posted by FlamesFanStrandedInEDM

I have 10 pieces of silver for anyone travelling to Anaheim that can bring back this mans hands...

[IMG][/IMG]

this guy just makes me mad.

[Locke]

Guys, guys, guys!

This is it. Its payoff time.

The Flames have been taking a dive against the Ducks for a decade to lure them into a false sense of security, once this series starts they'll all switch their sticks to their other hands and just demolish the Ducks.

Its all about the long-game.

[AC]

Originally Posted by Puppet Guy

this guy just makes me mad.

I don't think I saw him this year.

[Toonage]

Had to think that was an American feed with Canadian announcers calling what Fox or whoever was showing. Otherwise why would a Canadian sports network keep going back to that guy again and again?!?

[ForeverFlameFan]

I've been in Mexico for a church mission for almost 2 years now. I left the 22nd on July, 2015. Have been trying to follow the Flames only through a few highlights of the past 2 seasons, emails from my dad, and a couple of other people. Just for starters, my dad was on his church mission for 2 years, and the Flames won the cup while he was gone.

A lot of you have to have a lot more faith. The Flames have takin' some long strides since Hartley, since last year's season, and look, we've made the playoffs again. Anaheim does not look the same, they aren't as good as before in my opinion.

Just know that there is someone down in Mexico crossing his fingers that all goes well. I am not saying with 100% certainty that the Flames win, but this series will go to 6 or 7 games. I think we'll be bruised up after a hard series, and if we lose to the Ducks, we have gained more playoff experience and will be a better team next year. If we win, everyone is going to look at this team differently. As someone has mentioned, we have a heck of a better roster in 2017 than 2015.

GO FLAMES GO. Flames in 7.

-FFF

[direwolf]

If by some miracle the Flames can earn a split in the first two games, then I think it's anyone's series. Flames will have finally broken the curse and will be much more confident heading home for games 3 and 4. If they go home down 2-0 in the series, it'll be over quick.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I've been in Mexico for a church mission for almost 2 years now. I left the 22nd on July, 2015. Have been trying to follow the Flames only through a few highlights of the past 2 seasons, emails from my dad, and a couple of other people. Just for starters, my dad was on his church mission for 2 years, and the Flames won the cup while he was gone.

A lot of you have to have a lot more faith. The Flames have takin' some long strides since Hartley, since last year's season, and look, we've made the playoffs again. Anaheim does not look the same, they aren't as good as before in my opinion.

Just know that there is someone down in Mexico crossing his fingers that all goes well. I am not saying with 100% certainty that the Flames win, but this series will go to 6 or 7 games. I think we'll be bruised up after a hard series, and if we lose to the Ducks, we have gained more playoff experience and will be a better team next year. If we win, everyone is going to look at this team differently. As someone has mentioned, we have a heck of a better roster in 2017 than 2015.

GO FLAMES GO. Flames in 7.

-FFF

I dont think they're coming back for you.

Just a hunch.

[Puppet Guy]

Originally Posted by AC

I don't think I saw him this year.

the other six dwarfs probably told him he was needed back at the mine.

[bc-chris]

just getting ready for later this week.... (this recipe is really good... i made it the last time the flames played the ducks in the playoffs)

Roasted Duck

· 1 duck (roughly 1.6kg)
· sea salt
· freshly ground black pepper
· 2 heaped teaspoons of five-spice
· 1 clementine (small orange)
· 6 fresh bay leaves

· For the gravy
· 1 bulb of garlic, halved across the middle
· 2 carrots, trimmed and sliced
· 2 red onions, peeled and sliced
· 3 tablespoons plain flour
· 100 ml Marsala (redwine)
· 1 litre chicken stock




Method
Remove any excess fat from inside the cavity of the duck, then using a sharp knife carefully score the breast and legs all over in crisscross fashion, roughly 1cm apart. Season the duck with salt, pepper and the five-spice, rubbing all over so the flavour catches in all the nooks and crannies. Halve the clementine and place it into the cavity along with the bay leaves. Place the duck in a medium-sized roasting tray, cook at 180°C/350°F/gas 4 for around 1 hour 20 minutes.

When the time's up, remove the duck from the oven and drizzle your par-boiled veg (see Gorgeous roast vegetables) with some of the fat from the tray then toss to coat (save the remaining fat for another day). Lift up the duck, scatter the garlic, carrots and onions into the tray and sit the duck back on top. Cook for a further 40 minutes, or until the duck is beautifully crisp and the meat falls easily away from the bone.

Remove the duck to the tray of roast veg while you finish your gravy. Add the flour to the broken-down veg, then mash everything together with a potato masher, scraping up all the sticky goodness from the bottom. Place over a medium-high heat. Pour in the Marsala, stir well and let the alcohol cook off for a minute or two. Add the stock, then bring to the boil and reduce to a simmer for around 15 minutes, or until thickened and reduced. Strain through a coarse sieve, skim away any fat from the surface, then season to taste. Shred or carve up the duck, then serve with a jug of gravy, apple and cranberry sauce, crispy roast veg and all the trimmings

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Monahan finished the season with a whimper. Sure hope it's maintenance issues cause I was underwhelmed after that first game against the Ducks.

If it was anything serious he would have sat out Saturday I think he is just slumping.

[bc-chris]

oops.... forgot to add the roasted veggies recipe...

Roasted Veggies

· 350 g raw beetroot, scrubbed clean and quartered
· 800 g mixed-colour carrot, peeled and halved lengthways
· 800 g Maris Piper potatoes, peeled and halved
· 350 g parsnips, peeled and halved
· 6 tablespoon of duck fat
· a few sprigs of fresh rosemary, leaves picked
· sea salt
· freshly ground black pepper


Method

Divide the veg between a few large pans (keeping the beets separate), cover with boiling salted water and parboil for 10 to 15 minutes, or until starting to soften. Drain the veg in a large colander and leave for a couple of minutes to steam dry. Give the colander a good shake to chuff up the edges, then tip into your largest roasting tray. Drizzle with the duck fat, pick over the rosemary leaves, season with salt and pepper, then toss to coat. Push the veg into a single layer, then cook at 220°C/425°F/gas 7 for around 40 minutes, or until golden, crispy and delicious, turning halfway through for even cooking. Serve with the roast duck and the Marsala gravy.