This is so freaking awesome.
So I'm in Seattle now and last time I crossed the border to go to a game it ended 1-0 with Ortio shutout in his season debut. I got to see him up close a bunch with the good seats... Cool as a cucumber.
Definitely going to try and get some tickets and go again. Any idea what prices might be for like the cheapest tickets in the house?
I've already been offered a ticket for game 1 by a friend who's a Canucks STH (but a Habs fab). Hoping it's Wednesday as I'll be flying to Calgary Thursday evening.
Would love to be at game 1!!!
The schedule is 95% set as game one will be Wednesday, April 15. Game two will be April 17 and continue on odd numbered days. The only question remaining is where the series will start.
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must show all Flames games nationally when they play on Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays !!!
1984 - Flames vs Canucks in the first round
1994 - Flames vs Canucks in the first round
2004 - Flames vs Canucks in the first round
2015 - Flames vs Canucks in the first round
Every ten seasons (with a few other years thrown in), like clockwork.
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Turn up the good, turn down the suck!
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Vancouver might be a shell of the team that won back-to-back President's trophies and went to game 7 of the Stanley Cup final, but they still have solid veterans like the Sedins, Hamhuis, Edler, Bieksa, Vrbata, Burrows and Higgins.
I think the key - as it always is - is to shut down the Sedins. Easier said than done, but this version of the Canucks is truly devoid of secondary scoring. Keep the Sedins off the scoresheet and Calgary has a good chance. If they both go PPG, I think Vancouver wins it.
so below is what i cooked up 2 years ago - no need to make any last year since the canucks didn't make the playoffs
i'm thinking if the flames beat the canucks that maybe just a roll of tp with the nucks logo and 2014-2015 and then take a blow torch to the tp to char it??
__________________ "...and there goes Finger up the middle on Luongo!" - Jim Hughson, Av's vs. 'Nucks
I like this matchup.
Goal - If both teams are playing backups, Hiller wins with .932 lifetime playoff percentage--what's Lack's playoff record? He doesn't have one. Plus their media and fan base turn on their goalies in a heartbeat.
Coaching--I'd take Hartley over their rookie coach any time. Defense? Without Gio in this they might match up evenly but they have Sbisa who is one of the most brain dead d-men under pressure in the league. Nobody on their d scares me.
Forwards? Their top line features two guys who've proven to be playoff vanishing acts, and Burrows who can be counted on to do something stupid at inopportune moments. Flames definitely have the speed advantage up front. These two teams played all their games early--I'd argue Gaudreau and Monahan are better now than when the Canucks last saw them.
This series will be the changing of the guard--we've had the diving cartorchers shoved down our throats when they were winning their president's trophies (and then choking when things got real) by all the Canadian media. They're older, slower and soon to be less relevant. This should be fun.
I think the series will go no less than 6. Who wins is a tossup but unlike 2004 where I went in expecting the Flames to lose I'm going into this series pretty confident that they can pull it off again.
canucks under Desjardins are too aggressive sending four men on the attack, coupled with the Flames counter-attacking style and ability to convert odd-man rushes.
Flames will need to get contributions though beyond the first line though. As hot as they've been, you need unlikely contributions from the bottom of the lineup to get it done in the playoffs. Also not a huge fan of Hiller in this series but have a sneaking suspicion it'll be Ortio that closes it out.
Also, a huge advantage to start this series on the road. Much easier to get the split than needing to win two right off the bat.
Flames in six.
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Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
must show all Flames games nationally when they play on Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays !!!
