[GDT] 2020 WC Play-In Round: Calgary Flames (8) vs. Winnipeg Jets (9) Flames 2-1

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Five wins in nine starts is not stellar. I believe that Hellebyuck has also been pulled twice.

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umm those are pretty good numbers.

Jets defence is pure crap though. GM should be fired for that off season debacle.

[Bingo]

Nobody should get "rolled" in this series, as it's a matchup of two teams playing pretty mediocre hockey.

Both flawed hockey teams.

5 on 5 the Jets are terrible with a great goaltender, they were 31st in the league in xGF% at 43.57%. That's brutal!

Calgary was 16th, very much the bubble team they are.

Now are they still these teams? How do they start after a 100 day lay off? That's out the window.

You can shorten things to when Bill Peters moved on, but that doesn't change anything either ... Calgary 16th, Winnipeg 30th.

Really it's the Oilers early ... terrible five on five team with a good powerplay getting bailed out by their goaltender ... against team average or team bubble.

If you want a silver lining for Calgary it's the high danger splits since Ward took over, they're ranked 7th to Winnipeg's 31st.

[Monahammer]

I think we have a great shot of beating the jets. I don't think it will be best for the franchise long term though. Unless we get lucky and get another gimme opponent in the first real round of the playoffs to build some momentum, otherwise there are quite a few teams in the mix that I think will take us handily in 7 games. A quick exit would be disappointing, but I think it would seal the fate of some of our core players and a retool would be performed. We would also have a higher pick this year in what I see as a very good draft in the top 12 spots and mediocre/ the same from 13-50

[442scotty]

Goaltending will be the key as always. Best goalie wins the series as usual

[Tabaracci_31]

My hunch is that a team playing in the preliminary round will win it all. I wouldn't want to be a team with a bye. It's extra time waiting and not getting back into full-on game mode. Just my .02. Can't wait for this series to get going. It still doesn't seem real to me.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Five wins in nine starts is not stellar. I believe that Hellebyuck has also been pulled twice.

8 starts, pulled once. His 9th game (which was actually his first) was in relief for the third period of a game that was 4-0 when he came in (the Flames won 6-2, with the Jets scoring their second at 19:59 of the third). Hellebuyck allowed 2 goals on 6 shots in that game.

It's interesting that Hellebuyck hasn't allowed more than 1 goal in any of his 5 wins over the Flames, and he needed to be that good because the Jets didn't score more than 2 goals in any of the wins. He has had one 2-0 shutout, two 2-1 regulation wins, a 2-1 OT win (Heritage Classic), and a 2-1 SO win.

In his 3 starts that ended as Jets' losses (only 2 were credited as losses to Hellebuyck because he was pulled early), he allowed 3 goals.

In the playoffs, he is 2-9 in games where he allowed at least 3 goals against.



Not surprisingly, the key to beating the Jets will be putting pucks behind Hellebuyck.

[Nelson]

In this series, I think if the Flames lose, this is how it will happen:
1) Hellebuyck outplays Rittich,
2) The Flames’ skaters outplay the Jets in terms of generating scoring chances, shots, shot attempts, and
3) The Jets capitalize on their chances way better than the Flames.

[ForeverFlameFan]

How do you guys think Ward will do with his first stint as a HC trying to make it into the top 16 with playoff-like games? I feel like he is going to make the necessary line changes to keep this series close, unlike Peters in Colorado.

[Bourque's Twin]

Originally Posted by Nelson

In this series, I think if the Flames lose, this is how it will happen:
1) Hellebuyck outplays Rittich,
2) The Flames’ skaters outplay the Jets in terms of generating scoring chances, shots, shot attempts, and
3) The Jets capitalize on their chances way better than the Flames.

4) Johnny is a non-factor

[White Out 403]

Anything can happen in a 5 game play-in. Last time the Jets and Flames played was, what , October? And in that one game the Flames nearly won with the Jets formula of being out played but having the better goaltender.

It may as well be a different season. Who knows what will happen.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Some of that, but mostly because I think this group of players seem to struggle with emotions in the building during games. We saw this played out in last year's playoffs when Colorafo fed off the intensity of the crowd's in both the Saddledome and the Pepsi Center, and the Flames wilted.

My hunch is that empty buildings will affect every team differently, but that the Flanes are likely to be among those that benefit.

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Hmm. Not sure I agree. I think the Flames stars are the type that create most of the pressure in their own heads. I also think Rittich is the type that loves a crowd.

...but it wouldn't surprise me if you were totally right. Who knows Surely they can't be worse than last year against Avalanche. The Jets are also likely to put a ton of pressure on themselves.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by AT77

Lol, of course I’d love and hope for the Flames to win but I’m being realistic here. I just don’t think they’re a playoff caliber team, which I think has been proven over the years. Not saying the Jets are an incredible playoff team either, but they’ve definitely had more success than we’ve had. Being realistic doesn’t make me a negative or fake fan, and I hope they can prove me wrong, but I just don’t see it with this team. I’m fine with taking the rose coloured glasses off and admitting the truth when it comes to the Flames rather than having a homer, biased opinion.

I also just think the Jets are a better team overall. Their firepower is unreal, their goaltending is better, and their d-core played much better down the stretch and started to click it seemed. They really hung around especially after losing so many big names on their back end. Our defense on the other hand, as good as it is on paper, has proven to be a train wreck more often than not, especially this season.

You know what I hate? Coming to a Flames forum and pretending to be a Flames fan saying the Jets are going to roll the Flames. Why don't you just grow a pair and admit you're a Jets fan and saying your team gonna roll the Flames? People are still going to laugh at you but laugh at you with respect.

[Psytic]

A lot better match up than last year. I think this is going to be tight. Every game will be like the winter classic we played against them. I'm expecting a tight low scoring high save pct. series coming down to which ever goalie is hot.

[Nelson]

If the Flames lose this series, do people think GMBT will be fired?

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Nelson

If the Flames lose this series, do people think GMBT will be fired?

I don’t think so but the seat will be hot

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Nelson

If the Flames lose this series, do people think GMBT will be fired?

Nope. I think Treliving has a long rope. In fact, I'll go crazy and say he's gonna be around beyond the opening of the new arena.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Nelson

If the Flames lose this series, do people think GMBT will be fired?

No, he just re-signed.

Major changes to the group might be in order however.

[Stanley]

Originally Posted by Nelson

If the Flames lose this series, do people think GMBT will be fired?

Nope. Tre is here to stay.
He's done everything he could to improve our drafting, the roster, you could maybe blame him for the way he went about the coaching hires but otherwise I think he's here to stay for a while.

If they fail it's on the players (and maybe a more seasoned head coach).

[Stanley]

I also think coach Ward will have a very long look at staying on with the interim tag being removed, as long as they remain competitive. Having such a long break and a crapshoot of a play-in round and playoffs it would be a tough call to blame Ward if they did lose in a hard-fought battle.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Nelson

If the Flames lose this series, do people think GMBT will be fired?

Nope. He has one more coach hire which is why it's critical for himself and the organization that he finally hires a coach he doesn't have to fire in two seasons or less.