Dallas or Nashville - Round 1

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Inferno

Because they like to tell the goalie he sucks and it's all his fault? I think the Flames would be fine. Guys like Tkachuk would probably feed off of the crowd instead.

Nashville has a rowdy crowd for reasons beyond their chants and gimmicks. My old man went to a playoff game there a few years back and said that they gave the team a standing ovation for the entirety of every TV timeout.

We went to game one in 2019, and he was certain that Nashville was in a different league when it came to atmosphere.

[CroFlames]

I like Rittich.

But I would like lighting him up even more.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

Looks like there's an 87.6% chance that the Flames play the Preds.

Fantastic news. I can't see how anyone could possibly want to face Dallas vs a Saro-less Predators.

Not only is Sometimes Save Dave not the kind of goalie you want to be your #1 in the playoffs, but Dallas has the ability to really turn things up. The Stars were pretty dominant, until the Cup final, in 2019/20 and they have an improved roster since then.

[Toonage]

The Preds aren't tied to Rittich for the entirety of the series.

If he has a bad game, he comes out and Ingram goes in and then who knows.

This is very much a careful what you wish for scenario.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by blankall

Fantastic news. I can't see how anyone could possibly want to face Dallas vs a Saro-less Predators.

Not only is Sometimes Save Dave not the kind of goalie you want to be your #1 in the playoffs, but Dallas has the ability to really turn things up. The Stars were pretty dominant, until the Cup final, in 2019/20 and they have an improved roster since then.

Yep, if you believe trajectory is at least important as current standings, the Preds are the weakest team going into the playoffs. For the second half of the season, the Preds record wouldn't even be on pace to make the playoffs. Their current position in the standings is the result of a really good start, but since then, they have been backing into the playoffs. Remove their starting goalie that played 67 of their games before getting injured, and it has to be the best match-up the Flames could hope for, at least on paper.

Dallas on the other hand, would be on pace to finish 5th in the conference going by their second half results. If I am being fair, there is a pretty fine line between the Preds 9th place trajectory and the Stars 5th place trajectory. It's really only the difference of a few wins because of how tight things were.

Rittich has the ability to make really good saves and I don't expect him to be a total pushover, but he also has some bad habits and if the Flames can pepper him with shots like they have been against teams all season, they should be able to overwhelm him over a 7 game series.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Toonage

The Preds aren't tied to Rittich for the entirety of the series.

If he has a bad game, he comes out and Ingram goes in and then who knows.

This is very much a careful what you wish for scenario.

Nah. If in the first round you can't beat a mediocre backup goaltender or a rookie with 2 starts, the Stanley Cup was never in the cards.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Toonage

The Preds aren't tied to Rittich for the entirety of the series.

If he has a bad game, he comes out and Ingram goes in and then who knows.

This is very much a careful what you wish for scenario.

Of course the improbable, that an otherwise inexperienced/not so great goalie, can get crazy hot and take over a series. However, you have to be happy that the most probable scenario is that the Flames are likely facing a Nashville team with sub-standard goaltending.


Edit: Also, this is a Sutter team. They won't be taking any opponent lightly. The game plan will always be to give 100%.

[NegativeSpace]

Ingram has good stats in the AHL but he also isn't lighting the world on fire there. That doesn't predict the future but it does give some context to how he's played this year.

Ingram: 2021-22 GP 54 Min 3195 GA 144 SO 5 GAA 2.70 W 30 L 17 T 7 SVS 1541 SV% 0.915.

By comparison, David Rittich in his last major time in the AHL was:

Rittich: 2016-17 GP 31 MIN 1774 GA 67 SO 5 GAA 2.27 W 15 L 11 T 1 Svs 816 SV% 0.924

All stats from hockeydb.com.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by blankall

Of course the improbable, that an otherwise inexperienced/not so great goalie, can get crazy hot and take over a series. However, you have to be happy that the most probable scenario is that the Flames are likely facing a Nashville team with sub-standard goaltending.

You're right, if this is how it goes I should be happy. Just been hurt so often by this franchise lol

[CroFlames]

Sometimes you gotta worry about a goalie with nothing to lose who plays loose, then gains a bit of confidence. Binnington and Murray to mind.

Are Rittich and Ingram those guys? I doubt it. But never say never.

Flames in four.

[greentree]

Originally Posted by loudin218

Anybody thinking of going to Nashville know any ways around these restrictions?

Scalper?

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Inferno

Because they like to tell the goalie he sucks and it's all his fault? I think the Flames would be fine. Guys like Tkachuk would probably feed off of the crowd instead.

Nashville has a very good crowd. They've got their rituals like the catfish, chants after goals, and for powerplays and aren't afraid to stand up and scream for their team. I would easily say it's one of the best atmosphere's in the league.

The Flames are still going to need to bring it or this team will physically take it to them and do have 3-4 players that are lethal. It's a great matchup in the sense that as long as this team doesn't stray from what has gotten them to this point, they should win. But they still don't want to get down early here and go back to Nashville with must win games.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Sometimes you gotta worry about a goalie with nothing to lose who plays loose, then gains a bit of confidence. Binnington and Murray to mind.

Are Rittich and Ingram those guys? I doubt it. But never say never.

Flames in four.

That would be something else. I haven't seen this team completely flatline another team in the playoffs, maybe ever.

I would still be very surprised if this series doesn't go 5 very tight games or possibly 6.

[Vinny01]

Rittich has never been the guy chosen to take the team into the playoffs. In my opinion he was clearly the better of the Flames tandem in 2019 but when game 1 rolled around Smith was in the net. In 2020 it was closer but Talbot was the guy they chose.

I really like BSD the guy. He was such a fiery competitor when he was here and I loved the stick flip on Draisaitl after that emotional win in Edmonton (I was in the building for that). I do think he will be at a huge disadvantage playing his old team against our elite goalie and many forwards who know his weaknesses.

[dino7c]

15th place overall team with their star goalie out...not saying it will be easy but if you can't beat them you aren't beating anyone else.

Rittich 10.85 and .667 in the playoffs, small sample size of course

[Robbob]

Nashville will be a funner series. There is just something about Calgary and Nashville games.

[nieuwy-89]

Dallas - solely to get revenge for 2020

[nieuwy-89]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I really like BSD the guy. He was such a fiery competitor when he was here and I loved the stick flip on Draisaitl after that emotional win in Edmonton (I was in the building for that).

He was never the same after that stick flip. I wonder if anything was said about that behind the scenes.

[Moneyhands23]

With saros being out either team should be beatable if the Flames show up and play their game. May take 6 or 7 games but there is really no excuse for them to lose.

[Redlan]

I chose Nashville before Saros injury...now I wonder if it Nashville will rally and be more difficult to play, especially for a short series.