QOTD: Who would you least like to meet in the first round?

[Imported_Aussie]

For me it is St. Louis, feel they are a bad matchup for the Flames.
Anaheim are beatable - I do not think they are as good as their record suggests.
Also, for all the talk of the curse, the last time the Flames won in the Honda Centre was in the playoffs...
Second worst matchup is Chicago.
If the Flames can avoid St. Louis or Chicago, then it will be interesting. Even Nashville, as good as they have been would be a better matchup for the Flames.

Ideally, the Flames take one of the division spots and play one of Vancouver, San Jose or (if they make a hell of a run) LA Kings. But if they end up as a wildcard, Nashville is the preferred Central opponent, and even Anaheim is preferable to the other 2 central teams

Preferred team overall would be San Jose, as the Flames own a good record against them and they have a history of failing in the playoffs. A Vancouver series would be fun, but they have a better chance of beating the Flames than the Sharks IMO

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Anaheim, although facing STL and Chicago would also suck.

I'd have to place myself in solitary confinement if the Flames played the Canucks in the first round.

[OBCT]

St. Louis; Anaheim and Chicago get honourable mention.

I think the Blues are a great team, and I have a gut feeling this is their year to finally break through in the playoffs. The Flames have seemed to struggle against them for a while, and even now that Calgary has taken a big step forward, it just seems like a very bad match-up for the Flames.

Anaheim and Chicago are downright scary in the playoffs, too, but for some reason I could see an early road win in either of those barns changing the complexion of a series that should normally be short and lopsided.

If the Flames make the playoffs, they will need extraordinary goaltending (and complete team play) to have a chance to beat any of those three teams in a best-of-7 series, IMO.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by zukes

Okay so a little research shows that 2 & 3's play each other in their own division. The top point #1 team plays the lowest point wild card, with the other #1 getting the other wild card.

As it stands today that means:

Vancouver @ Nashville
Winnipeg @ Anaheim
Chicago @ St. Louis
San Jose @ Calgary

I do not see a realistic scenario where we play Chicago, they'd have to gain 9 point sin all likelihood on Nashville due to ROW (very unlikely) and the Flames would have to fall below San Jose, Vancouver and Winnipeg and stay ahead of the rest (very possible, but also not statistically likely).

I think Bingo may have been using the old 1 - 8 seedings.

Another new change is that teams aren't 'reseeded' after the first round but it's a bracket. The conferences will essentially break into the two conferences:

First place Vs Wildcard
Second place Vs Third place

The winners of those two series will play each other.

"Getting into" that central division seems more scary than going up against Anaheim. At least going up against Anaheim would very likely mean a second round against the Sharks/Canucks which seems easier than a second round of Nashville/St.Louis/Chicago. Although that's really counting the chickens here

[Gaudfather]

Can you imagine though - after not winning in Anaheim for 11 years - the Flames took a playoff series on them by winning a Game 7 in Anaheim - would be so sweet.

[Phaneuf]

Chicago - that team is a different animal in the playoffs. We could take on the Ducks. There will be no curse if we meet them in the playoffs, believe that.

[#-3]

I went St Louis. I think they like the Flames are a team that can role 4 lines, and if the Flames are going to have Playoff success they will bring a vary up tempo game with 4 lines and hope the other team cannot keep pace.

[Fan in Exile]

I don't know why Anaheim is such a landslide. Flames have definitely looked worse against St. Louis. It's a bad match-up for us. They seem to absolutely stifle us. Even if they lose, I can see some positives in playing the Ducks or Hawks but I fear that St. Louis would sweep us.

[Enoch Root]

1) Chicago - they have a playoff gear that is unmatched
2) St Louis - worst matchup for us IMO
3) Anaheim - obvious reasons

Very unlikely that we face CHI or STL, which is great news. And honestly, Anaheim doesn't scare me. A split in the 1st 2 games and the monkey is off their back. I actually think the Flames can take them in a series. And the pressure would be 100% on Anaheim.

As for SJ, VAN, or NAS (the most likely opponents), bring 'em on!

[dammage79]

Went with Anaheim but an argument was made within for St.Louis too. They're really the only two teams so far this year to fully take control of the Flames. Chi dominated but the Flames pulled out a W so I didn't take CHI into consideration, if the was a bronze medal for this topic, CHI would definitely get the Bronze.

1. ANA
2. St.Louis
3. CHI.

[Eric Vail]

Originally Posted by Cflames_12.5

I voted wrong. Damn brain. Ducks is my vote. I voted Vancouver for the team I'd like to play the most.

I did the same. I picked Winnipeg as the team I'd like the Flames to play. Anaheim is obviously our worst matchup.

[AC]

Chicago 1-2
St. Louis 0-1 ... 2 games remaining
Nashville 2-0 ... 1 game remaining
Anaheim 1-2 ... 2 games remaining
Vancouver 1-1-1 ... 1 game remaining
San Jose 3-1 ... 1 game remaining
L.A.3-0 ... 2 games remaining

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by AC

Chicago 1-2
St. Louis 0-1 ... 2 games remaining
Nashville 2-0 ... 1 game remaining
Anaheim 1-2 ... 2 games remaining
Vancouver 1-1-1 ... 1 game remaining
San Jose 3-1 ... 1 game remaining
L.A.3-0 ... 2 games remaining

The Flames beat Nashville twice already this year. My memory is poo as I do not remember those games. Looking the scores up though they both were one goal games. First one went to a shoot out. The other was a regulation win. Stealing that last game against them would be massive.

[Radio]

Damn, read it wrong and voted Sharks for who I'd like to play the most in the first round. Would've voted Ducks had I read it right.

[AC]

Originally Posted by dammage79

The Flames beat Nashville twice already this year. My memory is poo as I do not remember those games. Looking the scores up though they both were one goal games. First one went to a shoot out. The other was a regulation win. Stealing that last game against them would be massive.

The Preds are 20-2-1 at home as well, so we are one of three teams to take 2 points away in Nashville.

[corporatejay]

Crap, I misread the question, I thought it said who would you most like to meet (San Jose)...I agree, Anaheim.

[activeStick]

I think the only teams that would take the Flames lightly are Vancouver, Anaheim, Chicago due to some of the personalities in those rooms (Bieksa/Burrows), (Getzlaf/Perry), (Kane/Toews). So I'd like the Flames to meet any of these three as Calgary can quickly go out to a 2-0 series lead with these teams not taking Calgary seriously.

Of the remaining teams, wouldn't want to face the Blues.

[Super-Rye]

I took Vancouver because history has shown that who ever wins that series will go on a glorious run to the Stanley cup finals.

Seriously though nothing would be better than watching the Flames play their biggest rival in a playoff series. Win or lose that'd be a heck of a series.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Super-Rye

I took Vancouver because history has shown that who ever wins that series will go on a glorious run to the Stanley cup finals.

Seriously though nothing would be better than watching the Flames play their biggest rival in a playoff series. Win or lose that'd be a heck of a series.

You should read the thread title again.

[djsFlames]

Looks like some people flunked their reading comprehension tests in school.