NSH/DAL/LA/LV - who would like in the first round?

[djsFlames]

I think this sums it up best

We shouldn't focus on who we're playing, but more on whether we're playing our game.

We were given top 3 odds at the prize because of our A game which has shown to be effective against any team.

If we're bringing that then whoever is at the other end shouldn't be of concern. Colorado probably feels the same way.

We just need February's energy heading into May.

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Two teams i think the Flames would like to avoid the longest are the Avs (obvious reasons) and the Blues (match up nightmare and they are really clicking at the right time).

Beyond that it doesnt matter, though the Oilers would be a nice opponent in the 1st round.

Hoping the central just kicks the crap out of each other with Colorado/St Louis/Minnesota/Dallas/Vegas

[JBR]

I wouldn’t want to face Edmonton. Am I doing this right?

[kermitology]

I don't want to see Vegas or Nashville. It's a small sample size still, but never having won a game in Vegas, plus a history of lackluster performance against them is bad news. Nashville will goalie the Flames. They're big, tough, can score and Saros is elite. He's 5-1-1 against the Flames. Again, small sample size, but I don't like that.

[lazypucker]

I don't want Vegas to make the playoffs at all, those cap cheating bastards!

If Vegas gets in with a full healthy lineup, they may be a dark horse to go deep and even capable of upsetting Colorado.

[#-3]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Oh thats a good point. How many wins to clinch the division?

I believe it's 106 points currently right?

Which makes the 'magic number' with Edmonton 7 (or is it 3.5?)

3-0-1 will clinch, which is reduced with every Edmonton loss

The current swing is;

Edm 7 points, as long as one of them is a 1 ROW
LA 3 points
LV 1 ROW

I think realistically 2 is enough

[1_Flames_Fan]

I don't like picking but if I have to it's LA all the way. No Doughty and Durzi is no Doughty either

[1_Flames_Fan]

Also I hope Vegas plays EDM if they get it at all.

[Sec214]

Bring on anyone, having a preference gets you complacent. Ask the Flames team vs the AVS

[Roof-Daddy]

Nashville is +27, the best of the potential round 1 opponents.

Vegas is next with +17 and that's while having key players out pretty much all year. They will likely have a payroll that's pushes $100 million when the playoffs start.

Dallas seems to give us fits, but they would appear to be the weakest team of the group to face. -2 goal differential and only 28 regulation wins. They have 10wins coming via gimmick OT and SO.

[Goriders]

I think LA. They are cooling off and have key members out.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I just don't think there is anything to be drawn from in-season series. The Flames completely dominated Colorado the same year they faced them in the playoffs


Sent from my SM-G986W using Tapatalk

I agree reg season is largely meaningless, but not sure it was domination that year:

3-2OT win in COL (Oct 13)
6-5 win in CGY (Nov 1)
5-3 win in CGY (Jan 9) - 5th goal was ENG

COL was very streaky that year; their Nov L was the 2nd of a 5 game streak. Between Dec. 21 and Feb 12 they won 3 games in regulation, 5 OTLs, and 13 reg Ls (1 being to us).

Then they closed Feb getting 13/16 pts; went 2-5 to start March, and then a 10-1-2 run to close the season (only loss being game 82).

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

I agree reg season is largely meaningless, but not sure it was domination that year:

3-2OT win in COL (Oct 13)
6-5 win in CGY (Nov 1)
5-3 win in CGY (Jan 9) - 5th goal was ENG

COL was very streaky that year; their Nov L was the 2nd of a 5 game streak. Between Dec. 21 and Feb 12 they won 3 games in regulation, 5 OTLs, and 13 reg Ls (1 being to us).

Then they closed Feb getting 13/16 pts; went 2-5 to start March, and then a 10-1-2 run to close the season (only loss being game 82).

Colorado also got a big boost from Makar making his debut in the playoffs against us. I think in game 2, but I could be wrong.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Three points back if LA with a game in hand

After tonight, LA could easily win out. They play no playoff teams.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Nashville is +27, the best of the potential round 1 opponents.

Vegas is next with +17 and that's while having key players out pretty much all year. They will likely have a payroll that's pushes $100 million when the playoffs start.

Dallas seems to give us fits, but they would appear to be the weakest team of the group to face. -2 goal differential and only 28 regulation wins. They have 10wins coming via gimmick OT and SO.

@ Dallas, yeah that's pretty bad as far as playoff teams.

DAL and LA are likely the weakest opponents. Equivalent to us landing Vancouver in 2015.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

After tonight, LA could easily win out. They play no playoff teams.

Have you seen them play lately? they are not winning out

Ducks are not going to just give them 2 easy wins...biggest rivals and all

This time of year playoff teams playing spoiler are super dangerous, its teams with spots in the bag that might let up (not the Avs apparently)

[DiracSpike]

Looking at the standings, we have a 50% chance of playing Nashville, 49% chance of Dallas, and 1% anyone else. It's going to be one of those two teams.

Nashville seems like the one to avoid given the goal differential and better goalie/star power, but I have PTSD from Dallas bullying the #### out of the Flames in 2020 and think we especially don't match up with their top line well. Tough call. Almost rather finishing second to play the Kings. Almost.

[boogerz]

In order of preference:

1. LA - aging stars, no Doughty, and their depth is young. If the system and team play breaks down, they are toast

2. DAL - the only scary thing about Dallas is their forward group (namely Benn and Pavelski's timely and consistent goals against the Flames)

3. NSH - they have all of the makings of a cinderella team

4. VGK - they've been bad this year, but hoping that they don't pull it together seems a bit too risky

[Freddy]

I check hockeyfights.com regularly and Nashville this season seems to have adopted a wolfpack mentality where it seems everyone on the bench is willing to throw down. Tanner Jeannot as a rookie has the most fighting majors in the league and is also near the top of the Calder goal scoring. If Nashville sucked the Flames into a 4 line war of toughness it could throw the Flames game off and be the difference (in a bad way) so I’d rather play LA or Dallas.

[calgarygeologist]

After watching the game tonight I am not sure that the Flames can beat Nashville but that would be a really fun series to watch.