[News] WCQF: Your Calgary Flames (P1) vs Colorado Avalanche (WC2) — AVALANCHE WIN SERIES 4-1

[VilleN]

I don’t think our goaltending is really that bad. Since the deadline it’s been decent... Really not overly concerned. I wish Rittich was starting tho, I have more faith in him.

[Johnny Makarov]

Flames kill more people than avalanches every year.
We win!

[AC]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Anyways if anyone is looking for a new hat for the playoffs.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1113842884979990529

...then they should look elsewhere because that hat is not red?

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Five-hole

Having a 1-year old, 8pm starts suck ass for me.

I would think 8pm is ideal for this type of situation?

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I would think 8pm is ideal for this type of situation?

Until we score!

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Look, Transplant, I don't really want to waste my time explaining to you what "anymore" means. This isn't the CBC days where they tried to put multiple games on one channel. Like I said, with eight channels available to them, late starts just can't be justified.

And yes, if you want to do a full doubleheader, the east should have to adapt just as much as the west does. If that means that supposedly "1/4 of the country" - more accurately, less than 1/6th - misses the start of an out of market game, so be it. Would be better from an audience capture perspective than having 2/3 of the country going to bed before our game even starts.

Keep in mind that paying customers here in Calgary are getting screwed to satisfy Toronto's ego. That is not something we should just be accepting of. Especially for a completely unnecessary 8:30 start on Saturday - where you could start Toronto earlier without taking away anyone's ability to watch the vaunted Leafs. Particularly since a game starting that late going to overtime means thousands of people will have to make a decision on watching the end of the game or risking having it end after the C-trians shut down for the night.

Your last point is the best point.

Local, paying customers, should not have to weigh getting home at a reasonable hour with staying for the entirety of the game they purchased admission to.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I would think 8pm is ideal for this type of situation?

Well if you want to get up at 5:45 with him after watching hockey till 11:00 (or later), we'd be happy to have you.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by Five-hole

Well if you want to get up at 5:45 with him after watching hockey till 11:00 (or later), we'd be happy to have you.

5:45 hey? Must be nice to sleep in.

[brew]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I would think 8pm is ideal for this type of situation?

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

Until we score!

This exact thing happened in my house in 2004, game 7 vs Vancouver. Wife put the kiddo to bed, had just tiptoed out and Gelinas scored. Doghouse for me, once I got him to stop crying again

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Five-hole

I get everyone being nervous about Smith. Though he has played well he always seems prone to let in a softy. This team struggles to score in tight-checking games (thankfully the Avs are probably the best possible first round opponent in this respect), and one softy could mean game.

That said, he's been clearly better than Rittich for some time now, has more experience in general, and has playoff experience in particular.

Smith should absolutely get the start on Thursday, and he will.

I am not really disagreeing with much in your post, but isn't this the very definition of "tight checking games"? Games in which there is no space and time for either team, and in which goals are in extremely short supply? I think it is fair to say that ALL teams struggle to score in tight checking games. This is not a problem that is unique to the Flames.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I actually think this is going to be a fun series to watch. Say what you will about the Avs, but they are not a boring team. They move the puck really quick - you expect both teams to tighten-up defensively during the playoffs, but I bet you will still see some run-and-gun hockey with wide-open chances both ways through stretches. I also look forward to start hating them. I hate most of the western conference teams, but for some odd reason, I like the Avs. I am sure I will start hating them by the end of game 1, win or lose.


I do think that the Vegas-SJ series and the Winnipeg-St. Louis series are going to be absolute battles - the kind of hockey you expect and love in the playoffs, but the Flames-Avs might have the best end-to-end action out of any series. I think the Avalanche put up a bigger fight than most expect here - they are absolutely rolling and coming in with a tonne of confidence. Grubauer has been exceptional, and Varlamov has a track record of being very good as well, even if he hasn't quite been that this year. This is a team coming in and feeling like they can upset. I still say the Flames in 6, but this is going to be a closer series than I think people are going to expect.



Can't wait!

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by brew

This exact thing happened in my house in 2004, game 7 vs Vancouver. Wife put the kiddo to bed, had just tiptoed out and Gelinas scored. Doghouse for me, once I got him to stop crying again

Didn't have kids then but I'm surprised the neighbors didn't call the cops. Eff bombs and screaming left and right. 16 years of angst released!!

and holy f bombs when the Canucks tied it late during jerseygate. It was prob the most swearing i have ever done in one day. It will never be matched!

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Five-hole

Well if you want to get up at 5:45 with him after watching hockey till 11:00 (or later), we'd be happy to have you.

Losing sleep is better than missing the start of the game which would be the case for me when the puck drops before 8. I am up at 5:45 getting ready for work and getting my toddler ready for daycare. It was way easier when she was just a year old but having said that all kids are different.

I just figure with a kid under 2 you would have no worries about being ready to watch an 8pm start and you are already used to sleep deprivation so a late night is just another day at the office for you.

[Envitro]

Just in case it hasn't been mentioned:

TV Broadcast Crew for Round 1

Play-by-play: Rick Ball; Game Analyst: Cassie Campbell-Pascall; Reporter: Ryan Leslie
All games will be available on Sportsnet 960 The FAN

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Envitro

Just in case it hasn't been mentioned:

TV Broadcast Crew for Round 1

Play-by-play: Rick Ball; Game Analyst: Cassie Campbell-Pascall; Reporter: Ryan Leslie
All games will be available on Sportsnet 960 The FAN

Ugh. I hope the playoff sphere brings Cassie out of her monotone shell.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I am not really disagreeing with much in your post, but isn't this the very definition of "tight checking games"? Games in which there is no space and time for either team, and in which goals are in extremely short supply? I think it is fair to say that ALL teams struggle to score in tight checking games. This is not a problem that is unique to the Flames.

I get what you mean, but the Flames were shut out a few times down the stretch in said tight-checking games. Given they finished the season as the league's #2 offence, I feel like that's a greater disparity than most in being able to pile in goals in barn burners but clamming up when the defence gets tough.

[Five-hole]

In other news: NHL.com staff writers unanimously pick Calgary to advance. https://www.nhl.com/news/stanley-cup...?tid=287339198

[Ace]

Originally Posted by BigRed

Don't worry, you'll hate Landeskog in no time.

Who to Boo?: "Landeskog"

I can get behind that

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Your last point is the best point.

Local, paying customers, should not have to weigh getting home at a reasonable hour with staying for the entirety of the game they purchased admission to.

Local paying customers don’t have to go if the time doesn’t suit them, and anyone who bought before the game times were announced will have no trouble moving their tickets. Problem is, the late start time isn’t going to impact attendance or TV ratings from the local market. One of the downsides of being a relatively small but passionate fan base, there is no need to accommodate us.

[Patek23]

Originally Posted by Ace

Who to Boo?: "Landeskog"

I can get behind that

Seems more tradition to boo an unsuspecting player. “Zidlicky kills kittens” kind of thing.

Although looking at their roster no one really jumps out.