[News] WCQF: Your Calgary Flames (P1) vs Colorado Avalanche (WC2) — AVALANCHE WIN SERIES 4-1

[Tyler]

Hope we shut them out in Denver.

Cannot stand hearing: AAVVVAAAAALLLLLLLLAAAAANNNNCCCCCHHHHEEEEE goal

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by AC

Well... Mike Smith is 11-1-4 against Colorado in his career.

1 regulation loss, with .931 SV% and 2.08 GAA.

He's actually never lost in regulation as the starter. The one loss was in relief.

That’s spread over, what, 14 years? Over which they are usually not a playoff team. Different coaches, different players. Not really terribly relevant, unfortunately.

[Toonage]

^ Yes and there are years in there where he faced Colorado once or not at all.

This season is what I would look at, and Rittich is the better bet.

https://www.hockey-reference.com/tea...019_games.html

[Red]

Rittich had not looked good since the ASG. His game really tailed off in the second half. Smiths has improved a lot.

Neither guy has been ligths out. But both have been good enough, Smith being better recently. I'm not blaming Peters for going with a vet.

[DeluxeMoustache]

^ I personally am not quite as reassured by what I have seen. I have definitely seen Smith make some big saves, which is nice, but offset by troubling fundamentals that, luckily, have not cost the team. Puck tracking is one. He seems to have had too many instances where he has no clue where the rebound goes. The forward lunge and flop leaving him in poor position for recovery. Even just last game, his puck handling resulted in the turnover, then the goal went between his arm and body.

Hopefully he finds a way to keep the goals against down where they need to be.

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Hope we shut them out in Denver.

Cannot stand hearing: AAVVVAAAAALLLLLLLLAAAAANNNNCCCCCHHHHEEEEE goal

That call is second only to

ANAHEIM DUCKS GOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLL

[Ashasx]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1115706666073219072

“if we were getting into the playoffs we wanted to play calgary,’’ he said. “we were never convinced their goaltending was good enough or could reach that level. The way colorado is playing right now, and the belief they have, it’s going to be a long series. I think if colorado’s big line plays better than monahan’s line then colorado is going to win.

“lately they’ve had a belief they were going to win in games with the playoffs on the line,’’ added coach no. 3. “it wouldn’t surprise me at all that the avalanche win it.’’

[getbak]

Who are those quotes from?

[Toonage]

The Athletic polled 3 anonymous former coaches.

[troutman]

2019 Stanley Cup playoffs: Flames vs. Avalanche series preview, pick

http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/2...s-preview-pick

Prediction: Flames in six. Grubauer keeps the Avalanche in it, but the Flames' offense proves too much to handle. But fret not for the Avs: Cale Makar, the No. 1 drafted prospect in hockey, and Ottawa's lottery pick mean they're going to be loaded next season (and beyond).

[Manhattanboy]

Ugh getting nervous already and puck drop is still more than 48 hours away...

[troutman]

2019 NHL First Round Playoff Preview: Calgary Flames vs. Colorado Avalanche

A lopsided season series saw the Flames pick apart the Avalanche in all three games between the clubs this season. However, Colorado enters the playoffs on a good run and are getting great goaltending. That could make the difference.

https://thehockeynews.com/news/artic...rado-avalanche

There may have been no worse draw for the Colorado Avalanche, who enter the first round on somewhat of a hot streak as winners of eight of their past 11 contests, than the Western Conference best Calgary Flames. When the former Northwest Division foes have met this season, the outings have been decidedly one-sided, with the Avalanche trying but failing to slow down a Flames offense that was among the league’s best this season.
THN Series Pick: Calgary Flames in six

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

https://twitter.com/user/status/1115706666073219072

Even if the Avs first line outperforms the Flames the 3M line could easily tilt the odds in the Flames favor as the Avalanche don't have an answer for them. That said I can understand teams liking their goaltending match-up vs the Flames as it's evident that many around the league don't think Smith and Rittich are that good.

[troutman]

https://www.tsn.ca/breaking-down-the...hups-1.1287668

I’m picking Calgary either way – there’s just too much firepower within this offence and Colorado having an injury to one of their handful of skaters who moves the needle seems like a death sentence. I reserve the right to remind you that this series could go needlessly longer with the wrong option between the pipes.
Pick: Calgary in six

[troutman]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/...s-predictions/

Jeff Marek: Calgary in 6
Eric Francis: Calgary in 6
Mark Spector: Calgary in 7
Gord Stellick: Calgary in 5
Colby Armstrong: Calgary in 5
Scott Morrison: Calgary in 6
Kelly Hrudey: Calgary in 7
Eric Engels: Calgary in 5
Christine Simpson: Calgary in 5
Luke Fox: Calgary in 4
Nick Kypreos: Calgary in 6
David Amber: Calgary in 5
Caroline Cameron: Calgary in 5
Rory Boylen: Calgary in 5
Ryan Dixon: Calgary in 5
Kristina Rutherford: Calgary in 6
Chris Johnston: Calgary in 5
Harnarayan Singh: Calgary in 5
Sean Reynolds: Calgary in 6
Shawn McKenzie: Calgary in 6
Iain MacIntyre: Calgary in 5
John Shannon: Calgary in 5

[Toonage]

Flat out stunned at Shannon's pick.

[troutman]

https://www.si.com/nhl/2019/04/09/nh...-bay-lightning

Falkenheim: The Flames will end Canada’s quarter-century-long Cup drought and defeat the Lightning in a rematch of the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals. The Flames were the West’s most complete team all season long and have the offensive firepower to match the Lightning with weapons like Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and Matthew Tkachuk. Mark Giordano marshals a Calgary defense that’s effective at limiting opponents’ scoring opportunities and, with good enough goaltending, the Flames will claim hockey’s most coveted prize.

And, LOL:

the Leafs haven't beaten an Eastern Conference playoff team in two months . . . So why not win it all?

[Shazam]

Not a single Calgary in 3.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Even if the Avs first line outperforms the Flames the 3M line could easily tilt the odds in the Flames favor as the Avalanche don't have an answer for them...

Agreed. The 3M line accounted for 5 goals and ten points in three games in the season series between these teams. They are being overlooked as a massive advantage for the Flames v. Colorado.

[troutman]

https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nhl/...h1fzzkowg1inf5

Jackie Spiegel Winner in 6 [CGY]
Brandon Schlager Winner in 7 [COL]
Dave McCarthy Winner in 6 [CGY]
Mike Murphy Winner in 5 [CGY]
Murray Pam Winner in 6 [CGY]
Lyle Richardson Winner in 5 [CGY]
Sammi Silber Winner in 6 [CGY]