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

[Jiri Hrdina]

I think the x-factors are as follows, particularly in a short-series
- Goaltending. Who gets hot at the right time.
- Laine v. Gaudreau. Both have potential to go off. If one of them does - their team probably wins.

[Enoch Root]

Yup, short series - goaltending and who, or which PP, gets hot.

As for people being down on the Flames, I like it - no expectations, backs against the wall, all that jazz. Being the favourite always makes me nervous.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

I don't even know how to respond to this. Like, what?

I'm sure it's hard for you to write that response because of the incredible squirrel problem Calgary has. Like, get with it Calgary! I can't drive 10 mins without seeing overturned trucks from the hoardes of squirrels.

^^ That makes as much sense as saying internet in Winnipeg is slower than Calgary. Like pretty brutal dude. Stick to the classics the yokels in this province understand: Winnipeg is cold, has mosquitos. We vote for communists like Trudeau. Cman.

You’re not wrong about the squirrels though. Bastards are everywhere

[GS Skier]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

I am pretty surprised how down people are on the Flames. Winnipeg was hot garbage this year relying on a great goalie.

Its utter nonsense for anyone predicting anything in this tournament. Hellebuyck scared me...6 months ago.

All we have to go on here so far are the consistent reports that Gaudreau has gained speed and Dube has taken a growth step. All teams say their guys are in great shape but those 2 can at least be compared to teammates.

I agree to some extent with the poster who noted Laine vs Gaudreau, whichever one pops wins. I also think Backlunds line has to hold up even if they are checking Schieffle. Scheiffles good but hes not in the NHL All Star speed contest any more than Monahan is.

That and man we have a great stable of young up coming defensemen. But we can only play 6. Also too bad they're almost all lefties.

If Winnipeg's D doesn't get hurt both teams can only play 6 guys but its still likely Calgary will get more offense from the back end.

Play the games we'll find out. I won't go near a Hockey Pool right now.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I think the x-factors are as follows, particularly in a short-series
- Goaltending. Who gets hot at the right time.
- Laine v. Gaudreau. Both have potential to go off. If one of them does - their team probably wins.

I’ve mentioned this in the past, the team that has their best players playing better than the other team’s best players will win the series.

If Sam Bennett is the Flames’ best skater, as he was against Colorado last playoffs, the Jets win the series in a hurry.

Monahan, Gaudreau, Tkachuk , Lindholm, Backlund,Gio, and Brodie have to bring their A game from start to finish.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Does Winnipeg have an advantage in skill up front?

Gaudreau and Scheifele are similarly skilled.
Tkachuk and Laine are similarly skilled.
Lindholm and Wheeler are similarly skilled.
Monahan and Connor are similarly skilled.
Backlund and Ehlers are similarly skilled.

And after that I think the Flames have the advantage all the way. The disparity isn't in skill... it's in past playoff execution. But a lot of evidence points to the roots of Flames' recent playoff struggles lying more in unfortunate samples of play than total ineptitude.

I think Scheifele is better than pretty much any Flames fwd, and as a C he’s gonna impact heavily. I think Laine and Gaudreau are similar in effect though obviously not style. Then I’d say the rest also roughly balance out. But the Flames get deeper IMO, with Ryan, Mangiapane, Dube, and (if something great happens) Bennett and Lucic.

[GioforPM]

Also, Winnipeg had a dynamite PP with Wheeler dishing either mid slot to Schiefele or all the way over to Laine. Tough to stop both options.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Also, Winnipeg had a dynamite PP with Wheeler dishing either mid slot to Schiefele or all the way over to Laine. Tough to stop both options.

Flames had a better PP % and PK % than Jets this season.

[Makarov]

I've been thinking a lot about this play-in series against Winnipeg and the post-season (presuming it actually happens). This is what I think:

Johnny Gaudreau is a special player, notwithstanding a disappointing past ~12 months. He is in his prime. If he is feeling it for a period of one or two months (like he was in December 2018 and January 2019 [or several other periods during his career), he is one of the best offensive players in the NHL.

This gives the Flames, at the very least, a puncher's chance to beat Winnipeg in the play-in series and then go on an exciting run in the play-offs. I'll take those odds.

[jg13]

So when should I put my car flags on? Tomorrow? Next week? Aug 1st?

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by jg13

So when should I put my car flags on? Tomorrow? Next week? Aug 1st?

The playoffs don't start until after the play-in.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

[savardandjokinen]

Originally Posted by jg13

So when should I put my car flags on? Tomorrow? Next week? Aug 1st?

I'm putting mine on the 28th, the exhibition game vs EDM

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Does Winnipeg have an advantage in skill up front?

Gaudreau and Scheifele are similarly skilled.
Tkachuk and Laine are similarly skilled.
Lindholm and Wheeler are similarly skilled.
Monahan and Connor are similarly skilled.
Backlund and Ehlers are similarly skilled.

And after that I think the Flames have the advantage all the way. The disparity isn't in skill... it's in past playoff execution. But a lot of evidence points to the roots of Flames' recent playoff struggles lying more in unfortunate samples of play than total ineptitude.

Why would the Jets even bother to show up?


In your similar skill pairings who would be a faster, better skater?

You would have to give that Schiefele is at least a luckier shooter as he has a 17.1 shooting % . Over the last 3 season schiefele has been lights out lucky with an 18.2 %

Last season

Gaudreau and MacKinnon are similarly skilled.
Tkachuk and Landeskog are similarly skilled.
Lindholm and Rantanen are similarly skilled.
Monahan and Compher are similarly skilled.
Backlund and Soderberg are similarly skilled.

[BigErnSalute_16]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I think the x-factors are as follows, particularly in a short-series
- Goaltending. Who gets hot at the right time.
- Laine v. Gaudreau. Both have potential to go off. If one of them does - their team probably wins.

I think the X-factor will be Backlund. I trust that whichever goalie starts for us is going to play well enough for us to win the games. And I view the forwards as pretty much a wash when it comes to skill and offence but I don't see anyone on their team that can shut down like Backlund can.

So in my opinion if Backlund can shut down/ come out positive in his matchup against one of the Jets top two lines, essentially neutralizing them, then I think the flames top line, depth and defence can easily overpower the rest of the jets.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I think the x-factors are as follows, particularly in a short-series
- Goaltending. Who gets hot at the right time.
- Laine v. Gaudreau. Both have potential to go off. If one of them does - their team probably wins.

Good point. It didn't happen, but a bounce or two and Smith could have stolen last year's series vs. the Avs if it had been a best of five.

And yeah in general I could see one line really carrying a team to victory here.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Last season

Gaudreau and MacKinnon are similarly skilled.
Tkachuk and Landeskog are similarly skilled.
Lindholm and Rantanen are similarly skilled.
Monahan and Compher are similarly skilled.
Backlund and Soderberg are similarly skilled.

Ah yes the classic argument.

"Flames lost once; therefore, are allergic to winning."

[dammage79]

Whoa, Compher is comparable to Monahan? What? This is why that doofus is on ignore and no one should quote him.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Whoa, Compher is comparable to Monahan? What? This is why that doofus is on ignore and no one should quote him.

The top 3 Colorado wins by a healthy margin and the bottom 2 go to the Flames.

Although Compher had a better first round last year than Backlund

[300 MPH Blues]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Also, Winnipeg had a dynamite PP with Wheeler dishing either mid slot to Schiefele or all the way over to Laine. Tough to stop both options.

Then stop Wheeler!

[Bingo]

Numbers don't lie.

The Jets are one of the worst five on five teams in hockey, guessing because they spend too much time in their own zone.

They get absolutely owned in literally all shot and chance split categories, and it takes a special group to manage to finish in dead last and behind the Red Wings in xGF%. Not sure how we can live in an advanced stats age and have pundits pick this team to do anything. You literally have to be the most superficial analyst of all time do so.

Will they still be that team? Guessing yeah, given their blueline and how that likely is the biggest reason they are spending too much time chasing the puck. The big factor is their goaltender and whether or not he can continue to put lipstick on a pig.

The other side? A truly middling hockey team that is exactly what they should be ... 16th, a bubble team. Add into that a higher risk of a face plant because of how the team's core mailed it in last year.

Are they mentally strong enough to do the things they need to do to win? Because last year we saw even Giordano abandoning his game and backing in on goaltenders creating chaos.

Two broken teams.