travel_dude

Stars opened up tha game already.

Must be a lot of Lucic fans.

2nd line of Bread Backlund and Coleman

Funny to watch a marine clap after the National Anthem. Weird.

Another Sutter fake out. Was supposed to be in, but the offical lineup card has him out. Hahaha

Brett Ritchie in. Just to mess with our minds. EDIT - false alarm. Wills says he's in, but the game sheet shows him out.

Get that jersey on.

Last thing we need is to wake him up or replace him with a younger player. Radulov used to be a killer to us, but he just looks old and worn out. Benn went from being a stud to being headed for the glue factory. Saying that, I still expect him to be in on their offence.

I'm not discounting Dallas. There are what they are in the playoffs. We have gotten away from what works and let them crawl into it. Last game was really tight, since it was the advantage game. More like a chess match. Dallas doesn't have the luxury of a chess match. Flames want to put the hammer down. Set the tone early. It's just a feeling I have. Phase 6, Stage 1. Believe in the system. Do what works.

I think if you went man to man in the Flames locker room, they want it even more that Dallas. The vets that won it before want a taste again of the glory. The vets so close to getting there want it desperately. The young guys with a bitter taste want it even more. The guys that have come from other team may not have had any successful runs before. I am expecting to see the Flames shot out of a cannon. More like game 4 than 5. Take their will away early and lock it down.

Thanks and props to RD for the playoff GDT. The first video is not available in Canada, so can't even see the title. No worries, I think we are all motivated.

Sutter is not going to tip his hand. Really, there is no point. I can understand the pros and cons of 11-7 or going with 12-6 with Tanev in. It's game 7. Do or die. No room for error. Figure it out before puck drop, but he already knows. Would have made the call during practice. He's not even going to show whether he goes with Coleman with Backlund. 12F or 11, he has lines in his head. And he makes a determination of how a player is "going" in 10 seconds of play. Play the game the same way you did all year and you stay in that spot.

One can easily argue he is Hart worthy as any of the finalists. Let me put it another way.... If Johnny was not on the team, would you have the crowd even show up an buzz when he has the puck? Most of the offense begins on his stick. The 9 shutouts that Marky put up cover for the two way play he was a big part of. The Oilers without McD would be the most boring and awful team to even watch. Their goto move is give it to 97, and that's really all there is. Draisaitl is like Jumbo Joe, slow and plodding with a great shot. Leafs without Matthews, hard to say. Still have talent that they could use. Just not a 60 goal guy. Rags are a team that is a season away from being a good team, even without Shesty. By strict definition, you could have picked any three out of that bunch and made a good case for it. Don't worry about it. Make the case for the Conn Smythe by being the best player in the finals.

Unfortunately, BP never really defended or disputed his actions. And they stemmed from years prior, so how much heat of the moment was taken as being overall a racist? I don't agree with labelling music in any way like that. I may not like the music and think there is a genre that totally denigrates women and promotes other things that are really bad. But, like I said, there is no context to the remarks. I don't believe that either side is squeaky clean. But we will never know.

First hurdle - getting a 3rd win in a series. Next hurdle - closing out with a 4th win. Whatever lines Sutter puts together, I'm sure that they will play at the top of their game. Line rushes the same as last game, except Stone not in main group. And the same practice lines as before. Not like Sutter is going to tip his hand. Most of the lineup has played with other players than the main lines.

I am in favor of clinching tonight. Get that out of the way. Get a few days to clean things up and rest a few dinged up players before next round. Put pressure on the Oils to try to win a series. Or LA to be victorious and the reward is playing us. LA is playing the way they need to and just to do what they do. Defeat EDM on home ice and end this runaway fan base. The guys that have never won 3 in a series will be looking for the vets to help them get over the hump. Want a positive effort so the negativity doesn't creep in. I almost quit commenting last game because of it. Almost. It was one freaking goal down.

Beck is there, but is just practicing. He may not get into games. Likely Kerins would be heading to Stockton. We just have not had long playoff runs with the Heat in a long time. Usually their season is done before the CHL and would be part of the Black Aces. Guys like Poirier, Francis and Kuz will be at the Memorial, so no chance they get to come.

The good thing for the Leafs is having Brodie and Gio to add some defense to a good offense. The bad thing for the Leaf is neither has had much playoff success. The Leafs really needed to win in 6, to get the series out of their heads. Now they have the demons to exercise. And the doubt in their own minds.

Holland doesn't even have a clue anymore. I suspect people are telling him who to go get. Not the owners, the Old Boys Club. Considering the amount they spend on buy-outs and a GM, I suspect the owner would have no issue paying for a coach like that. But, I don't believe that they want a coach like that. They want a run and gun offense with some defensive structure. Woody is their guy. A first round exit doesn't matter, since there would be enough excuses. The result would be a fall guy in the lineup. Maybe even Holland himself. I hope not, since he's killed the cap there.

Round 2 is where I shine. I hope.

Playoff Binnington has showed up again. They gave Husso the chance to be the guy, but he wilted a bit. My pool reflects the difficulty I has deciding between the two teams. An extra STL player just because they have won something.

I agree about Singh. It's kinda like he doesn't follow the puck or the rules someimes. Nothing major, just can't figure out what a raised hand means. Like puck off glass or gloved pass. I would take him 9/10 ove screaming Jack. He must have to have a cold shower after watching McD skate. Leah has a piercing voice. Like nails on a chalkboard. She used to do stuff for Flames brodcasts, and I could barely have the sound on. Now she does betting adds plus gets stuck between the benches in most NHL coverage on ESPN. Apparently, she was doing the EDM games and somehow missed that EDM had tied it up. Said nothing for 10 seconds. Whatever. Had to laugh at Millen, after an icing. Can't understand why Dallas doesn't use it's timeout. Ball quickly says, you can't after an icing. I mean some complain about Cassie's monotone voice, but we have it good compared to some of the US people doing broadcasts. Jack makes a boring EDM game seem like there is magic out there.

Have you heard all the backlash at NHL and SN coverage for a couple of series? Both Leah Hextall and Singh being trashed for their game call. I don't like Leah's voice, but she is a paid pro. Singh is not EdmontonJack but calls an even game. A little too wound up by Connor McDavid, but whatever.

Of course, but at least it would put to bed the Leafs Cup Final talk. Frankly, I don't even want to hear about the Flames chances until they get there. 3 teams to get through first. Considering how all the analysts had us 3-5th in the Pacific, hearing them get praise us seems wrong. Sure they exceeded expectations, but I don't know we are playing any different from game 1. Pretty darn consistent. Are we capable of going 16-12? For sure. 10x harder, but we have played the same style and had success all year. When we get away from the style, we get in trouble. But the media obsession with the Leafs and Oilers is really what irks me. Big swings in play by both teams. A Leafs loss tonight would set the fans on fire. An Oilers loss confirms what most suspect but are unwilling to accept. Regular season means nothing. Special teams win out when all things are equal.