If the Playoffs started today

[powderjunkie]

The East could have some great rivalry matches, especially in the 2nd round. Hopefully the wildcards remain in their own divisions.

FLA vs. TBL ideally

PIT vs. WAS in the MET, but really any permutation of those 4 will be fun.


I feel like the West is unlikely to have many strong rivalries...

VGK swept LAK 4 years ago. LAK and EDM haven't met since 1992. VGK/EDM never.

CGY/NAS never. CGY/DAL just once 2 years ago. CGY/COL just once 3 years ago. CGY/MIN or STL never.

COL/NAS once 4 years ago. COL/DAL went to 7 two years ago, and had two 7 game Conf. Finals in the Sakic/Modano days...COL/MIN a few times; most recently 2014. COL swept STL last year, otherwise once in 2001. COL/VGK would be a rematch of last year's 6 game series, but of course VGK isn't making the conf. finals this year.

MIN/STL have only played twice in 2015 and 2017.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

The East could have some great rivalry matches, especially in the 2nd round. Hopefully the wildcards remain in their own divisions.

FLA vs. TBL ideally

PIT vs. WAS in the MET, but really any permutation of those 4 will be fun.


I feel like the West is unlikely to have many strong rivalries...

VGK swept LAK 4 years ago. LAK and EDM haven't met since 1992. VGK/EDM never.

CGY/NAS never. CGY/DAL just once 2 years ago. CGY/COL just once 3 years ago. CGY/MIN or STL never.

COL/NAS once 4 years ago. COL/DAL went to 7 two years ago, and had two 7 game Conf. Finals in the Sakic/Modano days...COL/MIN a few times; most recently 2014. COL swept STL last year, otherwise once in 2001. COL/VGK would be a rematch of last year's 6 game series, but of course VGK isn't making the conf. finals this year.

MIN/STL have only played twice in 2015 and 2017.

Flames lost in the semis to MN in their first season in Calgary. Albeit a different franchise and many moons back.

Flames beat the Blues on their way to the SC......again a long time ago.

[flylock shox]

How is it that LA is any good? Looking at their roster - and their individual stats - I just can't comprehend how they're starting to look like Calgary's only competition for the division.



Is it just good coaching?

[JackIsBack]

Originally Posted by rogermexico

I would love Dallas or Anaheim to slay old demons. Mainly because the primary old demon is playing in Tampa now.

Dallas could actually slay Colorado - it's not a good match-up for them after winning the first seed in the West.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

How is it that LA is any good? Looking at their roster - and their individual stats - I just can't comprehend how they're starting to look like Calgary's only competition for the division.



Is it just good coaching?

That has actually a lot to do with it. McLellan is a good coach who got pretty much everything that could be wrought out of those gawd-awful Oilers rosters.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by JackIsBack

Dallas could actually slay Colorado - it's not a good match-up for them after winning the first seed in the West.

First seed in the west? I’m going to make a big bold prediction and say Calgary will chase down Colorado for first in the west.

Ten points back with two games in hand. If we win tomorrow vs Detroit and against Colorado on Sunday, we are looking at 6 points back with one game in hand still. I think we do it.

Especially with our upcoming schedule. Detroit-Colorado-NewJersey-Buffalo-Vancouver-Sanjose-Arizona-Edmonton-Colorado.

[JackIsBack]

Originally Posted by MrMike

First seed in the west? I’m going to make a big bold prediction and say Calgary will chase down Colorado for first in the west.

Ten points back with two games in hand. If we win tomorrow vs Detroit and against Colorado on Sunday, we are looking at 6 points back with one game in hand still. I think we do it.

Especially with our upcoming schedule. Detroit-Colorado-NewJersey-Buffalo-Vancouver-Sanjose-Arizona-Edmonton-Colorado.

Wow... really, never thought that was a possibility. I guess if we win both games in hand and then our next one against them, that 10 point lead shrinks to just 4 points... It's still a hard ask though, chasing a moving target is harder than one that is lying still, just ask the Oilers who are chasing just to get in. The three point game era also makes it harder as the teams you're chasing seem to get at least a loser point almost every night nearing the end of the season.

But if Colorado cools off ... and as of late, it seems they have.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by MrMike

First seed in the west? I’m going to make a big bold prediction and say Calgary will chase down Colorado for first in the west.

Ten points back with two games in hand. If we win tomorrow vs Detroit and against Colorado on Sunday, we are looking at 6 points back with one game in hand still. I think we do it.

Especially with our upcoming schedule. Detroit-Colorado-NewJersey-Buffalo-Vancouver-Sanjose-Arizona-Edmonton-Colorado.

Tall order, but regulation wins in both COL games would make it interesting. COL will be rested and angry on Sunday...CGY 2nd night of b2b.

Tough teams COL has to play compared to us:

PIT+2 1 HOME 1 AWAY
WAS+1 HOME
CAR+1 HOME
MIN+1 AWAY
EDM+2 (AWAY - not tough persay, but EDM will be desperate)

11 AWAY, 12 HOME remaining

CGY has to play:
VGK+1 HOME
NAS+1 (CGY plays twice AWAY, COL plays them once at home)
DAL+1 HOME
VAN+1 AWAY

11 AWAY, 14 HOME

[MrMike]

It’s in the realm of possibility. Sutter doesn’t let this team take its foot off the pedal, I think it will at least get close/interesting. Also gives them a target/goal.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Flames lost in the semis to MN in their first season in Calgary. Albeit a different franchise and many moons back.

Flames beat the Blues on their way to the SC......again a long time ago.

to clarify Flames beat Gilmour and the Blues en route to their final loss in 86


on the cup route it was Van-LA-Chi-MTL

[Lanny'sDaMan]

Originally Posted by MrMike

It’s in the realm of possibility. Sutter doesn’t let this team take its foot off the pedal, I think it will at least get close/interesting. Also gives them a target/goal.

Oh, I think Sutter has been VERY clear what this team's goal is. And it is singular.

Spoiler!

[1qqaaz]

I believe Vancouver and St Louis are the only western teams that the Flames have a winning record against in the playoffs. Nashville, Winnipeg, Seattle, Vegas, Arizona and Minnesota have even records (because the Flames have never played any of these teams in the playoffs). The Flames have a losing record versus the rest. At least I’m pretty sure this is right.

Based on this, Nashville might be a better option than Anaheim, LA, Edmonton.

So really, Nashville might be better than most teams based on the long term, largely irrelevant, franchise history.

[MrMike]

Anahiem Round 1
LA Round 2
Vegas Round 3
Florida Finals

The all sun road trip playoff tour.

Or the complete opposite

Minnesota
Edmonton
Colorado
Pittsburgh

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by looooob

to clarify Flames beat Gilmour and the Blues en route to their final loss in 86


on the cup route it was Van-LA-Chi-MTL

Yes....should have been clearer on that.

That Blues series was nerve wracking. IIRC the Blues scored really late in game 7 to make it a one goal game even though the Flames had stifled them most of the night....and that was on the heels of the Flames blowing a huge lead in game 6 and losing in OT.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

I believe Vancouver and St Louis are the only western teams that the Flames have a winning record against in the playoffs. Nashville, Winnipeg, Seattle, Vegas, Arizona and Minnesota have even records (because the Flames have never played any of these teams in the playoffs). The Flames have a losing record versus the rest. At least I’m pretty sure this is right.

Not quite. Here are the actual results:
Chicago 2–2
Minnesota (Dallas) 0-2
Vancouver 5-2
Edmonton 1-4
Winnipeg (Arizona) 2-1
St Louis 1-0
Los Angeles 2-2
San Jose 1-2
Detroit 1-1
Anaheim 0-3
Colorado 0-1

So, that is even records also with Chicago, LA, and Detroit, but none of this means anything for this season.

Based on this, Nashville might be a better option than Anaheim, LA, Edmonton.

So really, Nashville might be better than most teams based on the long term, largely irrelevant, franchise history.

Exactly. So, why would we base matchups on this? I can agree that Anaheim has had Calgary's number in recent years, and the Edmonton did in the distant past. But by the same token, Calgary consistently beat both LA and Chicago only to see them win series's more recently to even the records.

In the end, I don't believe it matters. I think the Flames match up very well against all their potential Round one opponents except perhaps Vegas, but I think with a big edge in goaltending that changes the complexion of that series.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

...I can agree that Anaheim has had Calgary's number in recent years...

But I'll tell you what does scare me more than facing Anaheim, and that is a series v TB because of Corey Perry. Since he started his NHL career, Perry has had a significant hand in beating the Flames in four series, and has never been on the losing side of that matchup.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

But I'll tell you what does scare me more than facing Anaheim, and that is a series v TB because of Corey Perry. Since he started his NHL career, Perry has had a significant hand in beating the Flames in four series, and has never been on the losing side of that matchup.

True, but I will happily take our chances against him this year

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

So, that is even records also with Chicago, LA, and Detroit, but none of this means anything for this season.

I'm quite confident that the Flames will continue to have an even playoff record against Chicago and Detroit this season!

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

The East could have some great rivalry matches, especially in the 2nd round. Hopefully the wildcards remain in their own divisions.

FLA vs. TBL ideally

PIT vs. WAS in the MET, but really any permutation of those 4 will be fun.


I feel like the West is unlikely to have many strong rivalries...

VGK swept LAK 4 years ago. LAK and EDM haven't met since 1992. VGK/EDM never.

CGY/NAS never. CGY/DAL just once 2 years ago. CGY/COL just once 3 years ago. CGY/MIN or STL never.

COL/NAS once 4 years ago. COL/DAL went to 7 two years ago, and had two 7 game Conf. Finals in the Sakic/Modano days...COL/MIN a few times; most recently 2014. COL swept STL last year, otherwise once in 2001. COL/VGK would be a rematch of last year's 6 game series, but of course VGK isn't making the conf. finals this year.

MIN/STL have only played twice in 2015 and 2017.

I'm on the opposite end of the wildcards in the east. I sure hope both wildcards are crossovers.

There has been COL/EDM (1997 and 1998) and COL/LAK (2001 and 2002).

New rivalries would be good too for variety.

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by looooob

to clarify Flames beat Gilmour and the Blues en route to their final loss in 86


on the cup route it was Van-LA-Chi-MTL

Originally Posted by transplant99

Yes....should have been clearer on that.

That Blues series was nerve wracking. IIRC the Blues scored really late in game 7 to make it a one goal game even though the Flames had stifled them most of the night....and that was on the heels of the Flames blowing a huge lead in game 6 and losing in OT.

Yep, my father was at that game. Eddie Beers scored a late PPG with 1:58 left to make it 2-1 and my dad said it was the longest 2 minute countdown ever. https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/stl-v...me_state=final


The Monday Night Miracle game 6 was complete bedlam.