[OOT] April 5, just three games.

[Fire]

The Avalanche are 8-0-2 in their last 10 with a hot goalie. Not sure which team I would want the Flames to play at this point.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Well I think we’ll end up with two distinct problems. If we play Dallas people will be panicking about our ability to win against them when really we should fully expect that we are still the better team.

The Wild Card race has just basically been Murphy's Lawing its way along to a first round matchup with the Stars all week. First the Coyotes still had a chance, Jets were up 2-0 and looked dominant, then Colorado yanks a horseshoe out of their ass and wins to kick the Coyotes out.

Then all Dallas had to ####ing do was to not poop the bed, it was like clockwork because I was talking with a colleague about how I was hoping Dallas wouldn't tank to face us. Then I read a tweet about the Stars resting Benn and Bishop almost immediately after.

OK, well hopefully the crap version of the Hawks shows up tonight. Nope. Currently annihilating a suspiciously disinterested looking Stars team.

This has basically been me all week:



If the Murphy's Law Curse continues:

-The bad version of Martin Jones shows up against the Avs, and lets in an awful tying goal with under a minute left after Burns misses the empty net.

-Dallas plays extremely undisciplined and gets paraded to the penalty box while the Wild PP rains in goals on Khudobin, who once again gets the start instead of Bishop because why the #### not at this point.

[Strange Brew]

If a team is seriously not putting forward their best effort, or icing their best lineup, in order to play us then that is the team I want to meet in the playoffs, 100 f***ing times out of 100.

[GioforPM]

Heck, if I’m Peters and Dallas loses out I’m gonna tell the Flames they tanked to face them whether they did or not.

Dallas’ wins against the Flames have been smoke and mirrors anyway.

[Mass_nerder]

If Dallas is intentionally tanking because they think we're going to be an easier matchup, I think they're going to get a nasty surprise.
That kind of stuff gets into the heads of opponents (us), and fires guys up. I think if they rest Benn/Seguin/Bishop again tomorrow, it'll be pretty obvious that's what they're doing, and the boys are not going to appreciate it.

[azzarish]

Originally Posted by Mass_nerder

If Dallas is intentionally tanking because they think we're going to be an easier matchup, I think they're going to get a nasty surprise.
That kind of stuff gets into the heads of opponents (us), and fires guys up. I think if they rest Benn/Seguin/Bishop again tomorrow, it'll be pretty obvious that's what they're doing, and the boys are not going to appreciate it.

100% and another 100% this!

If they are seriously doing this because they think we’re an easier matchup they’re making a humongous mistake.

We finished 1st in the conference for a reason!

[CaptainCrunch]

So long Montreal, you won't be missed.

[direwolf]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

If a team is seriously not putting forward their best effort, or icing their best lineup, in order to play us then that is the team I want to meet in the playoffs, 100 f***ing times out of 100.

No doubt the Stars would come in pretty cocky for a series against the Flames, just based on the fact that they've had our number lately, and that we don't seem to have an answer for the Benn/Seguin show. They also have better goaltending than we do, which is probably what scares me the most. If that team gets an early lead in any game, not only will we have to fight through their boring, bulls**t trap hockey, but we'd also have to beat Bishop, which is a tall order if he's in god mode.

All that being said, I think the Flames are still the superior team in just about every other aspect, especially defence and forward depth. Hopefully that would be enough to put the series away.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Mass_nerder

If Dallas is intentionally tanking because they think we're going to be an easier matchup, I think they're going to get a nasty surprise.
That kind of stuff gets into the heads of opponents (us), and fires guys up. I think if they rest Benn/Seguin/Bishop again tomorrow, it'll be pretty obvious that's what they're doing, and the boys are not going to appreciate it.

There’s a difference between intentional tanking and simply lacking motivation. The Stars likely feel they have nothing left to play for. They will not get home ice in any series, nothing tgey can do to change that, and their first round opponent options likely look like a pickem to them. One of three good teams in the central who have more playoff experience than the Flames, or the team that was clearly the best in the west this year but lacks playoff experience and they faired well against.

I doubt they are tanking to play us, but at this point I doubt we look that much less appealing then the other option so they likely arent busting their butts to avoid us. Just going through the motions in the last couple of games trying not to get hurt.....just like us.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

You can discount Dallas beating the Flames 6 times in a row all you want but people being concerned about that matchup is valid.

I don't count the GG losses...

This year they have slightly edged the Flames and I don't think they have seen the Flames best.

OT loss on a goal that shouldn't have counted
2-0 loss at the end of a long road trip
2-1 loss when their season was on the line and the Flames were basically a lock

[tvp2003]

Rantanen/MacKinnon/Landeskog are just as deadly as Benn/Seguin. Stars might have the edge on the blue line, but I’d rather face a wonky Bishop or Khudobin than a red-hot Grubauer.

[AC]

Originally Posted by dino7c

I don't count the GG losses...

This year they have slightly edged the Flames and I don't think they have seen the Flames best.

OT loss on a goal that shouldn't have counted
2-0 loss at the end of a long road trip
2-1 loss when their season was on the line and the Flames were basically a lock

Yep, Flames deserved to win the 1st game. Rittich struggled and the OT goal was a joke.

Game 2 was odd. I recall we dominated in the 3rd but couldn't score. We were also playing Rychel, Quine, Czarnik, Kylington, and Prout.

Rittich actually played in all 3 games.

[Winsor_Pilates]

I would love to play Dallas, they suck.
Losing 6-1 to Chicago a week before the playoffs start? Not very scary

[dino7c]

If the Flames can't beat either of these teams they are not winning the cup anyway...no point in being scared of anyone.

Its also hard to read results down the stretch...teams are either out of it, a lock and resting, or fighting for their lives

Montreal beat Tampa the other night and badly out shot them

[mdubz]

Why are people saying Dallas wasn’t icing their full team? Benn is the only one who didn’t play and Bishop is hurt. Seguin, Radulov, Klingberg, etc all played tonight.

[N-E-B]

Ducks up 3-1 late on LA. If they hold on the Oilers will clinch... 14th place in the west...

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

Ducks up 3-1 late on LA. If they hold on the Oilers will clinch... 14th place in the west...

too close to the high lottery odds for my liking

[hwy19man]

The Ducks are the first team to end their season. Hockey pools and fantasy are all for that game.

[FanIn80]

Perfect Saturday:

- Flames beat Oilers
- Avs beat Sharks (keeping us as the only 100pt team in the West)
- Dallas beats Wild (keeping Flames vs Avs in tact)

[thefoss1957]

I think your team is better off playing round one road games in Dallas, rather than sucking wind at 5690 feet.