If there is a Battle of Alberta...

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by polak

My guess is the Oilers would win in 6.

The Flames have fallen back down to earth since the streak and are playing like a bubble playoff team again. That being said, if they can play better defensively again I think they can beat anyone.

what a shock!

[polak]

Originally Posted by dino7c

what a shock!

An honest answer, crazy hey?

[Imported_Aussie]

Originally Posted by ThisIsAnOutrage

My Guess is Flames in 6.

I did the math and Connor McDavid is in on a ridiculous 40.7% of all Oilers' goals. A one-man offense just isn't going to carry a team to the second round.

I agree - over a series, it will be hard for McDavid to carry the team solo. Teams start to work each other out. McDavid already plays over 21 minutes a game, and if the other lines cannot produce meaningful offence, or games go into OT, does he play 25+ minutes? And then how does that impact him over a long series with a physical dimension?

The key matchup will be how the Backlund line handles McDavid's line.
I take the Flames over Oilers on the other 3 lines, and I like the Flames defence better.
Both teams have good goalies in good form, but both have question marks IMO: Talbot = workload, Elliott = sustaining late season form or regressing

The Oilers in a way remind me of those 1 round and done flames teams pre-rebuild. They rely heavily on two players: 1 elite forward who is relied on for scoring (McDavid/Iginla), 1 top starting goalie with a huge workload (Talbot/Kipper).
Outside of that line and the goalie playing well - how many games do they win against opposition that plays well if one of those two doesn't steal it?

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by polak

An honest answer, crazy hey?

but if the Flames lose out and the Kings....oh wait

you always bet against the Flames, hence not being surprised in this case


Obviously it could go either way, bubble team? Calgary has been better than any team in pacific, almost any team in the west for 5 months.

They were below a bubble team in October, since then they have been much better than that

Being behind a team in the standings based solely on loser points doesn't make you an underdog IMO

[Inferno]

I see it no different than the series with the Canucks. Flames in 6. Both teams are pretty even with only five extra loser points by the Oilers separating the two in the standings.

The Oilers may have swept the season series but were fortunate to play the Flames when they did. Rarely are the Flames ready to start the season and even Colorado would have had a good chance at winning the first two. And the last two came during a January slump that started with a horrendous effort in Winnipeg. Then there's Johnson putting the team in a hole early the last game. Play now and I think the worse the Flames come out of it is a split.

[polak]

Originally Posted by dino7c

but if the Flames lose out and the Kings....oh wait

you always bet against the Flames, hence not being surprised in this case


Obviously it could go either way, bubble team? Calgary has been better than any team in pacific, almost any team in the west for 5 months.

They were below a bubble team in October, since then they have been much better than that

Being behind a team in the standings based solely on loser points doesn't make you an underdog IMO

They were a bubble team the entire season outside of the streak and are playing like one since the streak ended.

You know why I tend to bet against the Flames? Because betting against the Flames has been a good bet for the last 25 years.

[Ruttiger]

In all sincerity I honestly think it could go either way. But gun to my head.....Flames in 7. This way I'm either proven right or pleasantly surprised.

[Red Slinger]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

I think it could go either way.

I agree. It's a tough call.

If the Flames are able to slow down McDavid (you can't shut him down) then they have the advantage. A lot of that will come down to how the Flames D handles his speed. Also, some of this will be determined by whether the Flames will be physical with McDavid and will the refs allow them to.

The other big factor will be which goalie gets and stays hot. Elliott has a playoff pedigree but not with the Flames. Talbot isn't really proven in the playoffs but has had a really good season, although they may have overplayed him.

Regardless I think this would be a great series and I would probably lose what little hair I have left.

[Angelino]

Hopefully it is a 7 game blood bath. Get the rivalry back to where it should be.

[brocoli]

As a hockey fan I want to see this match up. As an Oilers fan, yes the Flames are a scary match up. Edmonton just has too many question marks with almost no playoff experience. This could work out in their favour though depending on how Lucic steps up and if Talbot and McJesus can keep their ridiculous play.

My heart says Edmonton in 6. My hope is a 7 game serious where it's amazing old time hockey

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

I think it could go either way.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This is an honest answer.

Originally Posted by polak

An honest answer, crazy hey?

[undercoverbrother]

Sadly, I am concerned the Refs may play a big part in the outcome.

I full believe the NHL Refs, and perhaps the NHL itself, has a thing for the Flames.

I watch a lot of hockey and inevitably it appears that the worst/missed calls all seem to be Flames related.

The NHL seems (to this Flames fan) to be heavily invested in McDavid and the Oilers (by extension) being successful.

[djsFlames]

Maybe in the second round if either team survives but it's somewhat irrelevant at the moment. More focused on the game in Anaheim right now.

I could see it going down a lot like the CGY-VAN series where it looked like Van had the upper hand but a late goal/play and goaltending allows Calgary to steal one of the first two games on the road then slowly take it over as they find their mojo and figure out what they didn't in the season series as their experience and resolve comes through. 6 games I think if it came to it.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by ToewsFan

Who will win, and in how many games?

I'm trying to add a poll to this but do not know how.

My guess? Oilers in 6.

From your landlord thread..

Originally Posted by DuffMan

You joined in 2007, and this is your first post?
Where have you been?

Oh, and, burn it down

Originally Posted by ToewsFan

I was lost

No thanks. The city is already investigating the acts of the landlord.

You're damn right you were.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Sadly, I am concerned the Refs may play a big part in the outcome.

I full believe the NHL Refs, and perhaps the NHL itself, has a thing for the Flames.

I watch a lot of hockey and inevitably it appears that the worst/missed calls all seem to be Flames related.

The NHL seems (to this Flames fan) to be heavily invested in McDavid and the Oilers (by extension) being successful.

Calgary is 8th in the league in PP chances for per game, second among playoff teams and tops in the west.
https://www.sportingcharts.com/nhl/s...per-game/2016/

PP against, not good.

But I don't think the narrative works.

[REDVAN]

My heart wants to say Flames in 6/7. But I consider the fact they might fall into the trap of playing Edmonton's style, in which case it likely goes to Edmonton in 5/6 games.

The thing I want to point out about Edmonton being so reliant on McDavid, is that so was the 2004 Flames run so reliant on Iginla. Could be Edmonton's biggest weakness or advantage TBH.

[Duffalufagus]

Originally Posted by stang

I like the thread. Execution is poor but how do the 2 teams stack up?

The Oilers were gifted the best hockey player on the planet. The Flames are better everywhere else.

Hope this helps.

Edit: It is a push in net.

[CGY12]

If it is anything like the season where officials called penalties on the Flames when Mcdavid got looked at funny, and nothing when the Oilers hog tied Gaudreau, we are in serious trouble.

[MarkGio]

Assuming healthy line-ups:

Maroon-McDavid-Draisaitl Vs. Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland
Although I can't see this match-up happening (Backlund likely plays against McDavid), I can't see Monahan shutting down McDavid, so the edge goes to Oilers.


Lucic-Nugent-Hopkins-Eberle Vs. Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
The 3M line is one of the best and most consistent in the league. Ebs and Nuge have struggled. Have to give the edge to the Flames.


Pouliot-Desharnais-Kassian Vs. Versteeg-Bennett-Chiasson
Pouliot has improved as of late and Desharn brings some energy, but man those guys have struggled all year. This Flames line has been steady, but not overwhelming. I think the two lines wash each other out.


Caggiula-Letestu-Hendricks Vs. Bouma-Stajan-Brouwer
I have no idea - these guys don't play enough to make an honest determination. Letestu has been good, but so has Stajan. Again, the two lines cancel each other out.


Klefbom-Larsson Vs. Giordano-Hamilton
Giordano and Hamilton have been arguably the best pairing in the league. Even though comparing defensive lines against each other is silly (it should be comparing D-pairing to forward group), but out of simplicity, the Flames pair wins hands down.


Sekera-Russell Vs. Brodie-Stone
I like both pairings a lot. Russell blocks gamma rays and Sekera is all-around, but Brodie is the closest of all these guys to being a #1 defenseman. Stone is the worst of all these defenseman, however, he's no bum. So I think its a wash.



Nurse-Gryba Vs. Bartkowski-Engelland
Bartowski is garbage but Engelland is solid. Can't speak much about the Oilers line except that Nurse struggles a lot. I guess I give the edge to the Oilers here.


Talbot vs. Elliot
Talbot hands down. Elliot might go beast mode and Talbot might get fatigued, but on paper it goes to Talbot.

Brossoit vs. Johnson
Former Flames prospect has some promise for sure, but Johnson proves he's a capable back-up to hold things down whereas Brossoit is unproven.


Total Score
Even match-up. No doubt the Flames have better defense, but the Oilers have the better starting goalie. The forwards cancel each other out. The depth elements are a wash. I think this series could go to game 7 overtime.

[Mass_nerder]

Originally Posted by Angelino

With the lax rules in the playoffs I am really excited to see what mayhem Tkachuk can bring. If Tkachuk has another gear the Oilers should be concerned...

Lax until Mcdavid trips over the blue line and gets a penalty shot.
I would be seriously worried at how the refs would call a playoff game with McDavid; whistles away until McDavid is "tapped"