travel_dude

Oh yeah, that is so true. Really I was just pointing out that the last two years aren't even part of the trends. They really meant nothing other than TBL winning it all with the best team those two years.

Done and sent.

Blech. On the contrary, I would put down ABO and ABL. Okay, so I am now shamed to submit a team. What the heck. Will submit to RD today.

I don't truly believe Gio made us a bad team, but I do think that he defined how we played. We have the no-name D, no stars that people know much about on the backend. Absolutely punishing. We have the best coach for the playoffs in the West. Nothing fazes him. People always point back to the top line, oh they can't score in the playoffs or tough games. Funny, there were only a couple of games they went quiet. Not quiet from lack of chances. Our depth is so much more than the last time we were in. Even from last year where we lost out to MTL by a few crappy games. Time to lock it down.

Nothing logical about superstitions is there. Playoff beards, not touching the conference cup. Not uttering the words that mean no goals scored against..... I'm fine with sitting this out, since you have a much better record at predicting Pacific Divisions results.

The Flames are an enigma. They play the same way every game. Not always successful. Sometimes, it's a tired goalie or D-man. Or a bad penalty at the wrong time. I just don't see the weaknesses in their game.

I put a big * in the last two seasons. Neither were full seasons. The first COVID year was whoever was able to play hockey great out of the block. Last year was a joke. Real hockey begins today. Most have EDM rolling to at least the 2nd round because of Smith, a great D, and a much improved team and depth. I can understand that belief, but they have Smith. Beat LA in the season series and went on a run from Feb. 1st. Possibly a half broken Nurse and old man Keith. I don't believe in a lot of the projections, since they then to look at recent success. It's a mirage in some cases. If you haven't played a certain way all year, you tend to fall back to the lows not the highs. CAR and FLA should be the scariest teams in the East, but then there is TBL to ruin the party. CAR is also missing the true starter. COL should have no trouble with NAS, but if BSD has any confidence from his team, he will steal a few. Let MIN and STL beat the crap out of each other in scoring.

I personally think it comes down to the top lines from each team. If Backlund can do a good job shutting down the Stars stars, then we are set up well. Our top line has played against the best of the west all season. We don't hide them or just start them in the O-zone. It might be a tighter game in the playoffs, but those guys find space. Gone are the days of stretching out the ice and a slow plodding attack. It's not Hartley Hockey, but Sutter possess and attack hockey. You don't have the lowest GA per game in the West from just having a good goalie or top D. No predictions, just observations. Otter will be a tough test, but if we can get to them early, they will have a much harder time. They don't score a ton. They don't get 2-3 goal leads and hold them.

I am so much against a Flames-Oilers 2nd round. With that, I want us to face LA in round 2. That would be fun. And scary. But fun for the coach and a couple of players. The Leafs tried to get BOS for the opener, but BOS sat the top 6 plus top D. You win, you get Tampa. Waaawaaa (sad trombone) BOS gets CAR. Carolina, possibly without Freddie and an oft-injured Raanta. Yikes. Oilers are so confident in beating LA, they are already looking past it. So many offensive weapons (well 2-3 at most) they expect a cake walk. Smith playing Venzna, but we know what Smith really is. LA missing pieces but know how to play 2-1 games. COL gets a physical NAS with questions in nets, while Kuemper is up and down. No idea on that one, but COL expected in 6 or less. STL-MIN is a great battle series. Interested to see if FLA can breat the Pres Trophy curse and their own 1st round struggles. Sid's last hurrah with Malkin. Facing the Rags. Blech.

I am usually so wrong in predictions and supersticious in making these for my team. I'm gonna sit this one out. You definitely deserve props for even considering keping track of all this.

That is one series where I would not bet on a single game. If they split the first two, then it's going to be too close to call. Ultimately, NAS gets undone by penalties, but will they face as many in the playoffs. It's either going to be almost none or way over the top and a ref's feeding frenzie.

No worries Dude. We know you are a big fan. Leave the worries behind and enjoy the ride. 15 other teams have the same issues of needing to fix something. There are some rookie coaches that have been able to coast in. Some real injury issues and the games haven't even started. Not sure who to start in nets. Not sure of the lineup. Unproven in big boy hockey. Getting long in the tooth and no success. Unexpected and unrespected. Used to playing a run and gun offence and outscoring the problems. Expectations of pres cup winner and no success. Bought the present with the future.

I think the Flames have shown that they have played the same way for most of the season. We had one of the worst schedules in the West and managed to come out on top. I see nothing to really be concerned about in round 1. Dallas has the lowest GF and worst GF/GA dfferential in the West. Even with some throwaway games detracting from his stats, Markstrom is the top goalie in the west for SA% and GAA. I don't expect any shutouts, but he makes the saves you need to win. The biggest wild card is penalties. We have an awesome PK. And our PP is slightly above Dallas. Taking too many penalties really can hurt you in a game. If we remain even for PP goals for and PK goals against, we should easily outscore Dallas.

I'm sorry, but I don't see any similarity betweeen the team in the COVID playoffs and the team we have today. Nothing. 2/3 of the lineup turned over. Home winning record. Road winning record. Scoring first the most of any NHL team this year. When we get down, we chip away, not go for all the goals at once. Finishing off the season with a winning record and not a 4 month break. Have a D core that has been together the entire season, save for a few games. Top line in the NHL for GF/GA and scoring as a unit. We were less than a 20 seconds in taking a 3-1 lead, even with Tkachuk in the stands. Backlund caught out there for way too long. In game six, gave up 7 in a row after leading by 3. Coach fails to use his time out and waits until it's too late by throwing in Rittich, the guy that hadn't played in 4 months. Here's the lineup from the Flames following the double hit concussion on Tkachuk. Actually, it's how the series ended: Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Tobias Rieder Andrew Mangiapane – Mikael Backlund – Elias Lindholm Milan Lucic – Sam Bennett – Dillon Dube Buddy Robinson – Mark Jankowski – Derek Ryan Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie Noah Hanifin – Rasmus Andersson Derek Forbort – Erik Gustafsson Cam Talbot David Rittich There's no comparison to today's lineup. I may trash Backlund from time to time, and worry about Lucic's lack of foot speed, but we line up really well against any team out west. Have a top coach and everyone pulling in the same direction. We have no soft D. We can roll 4 lines, so OT not as big a concern.

Dallas after last night....

I would like to see NAS destroy COL. Then move on to Minny or STL and do the same thing. Whoever came out of that round would hve more than bumps and bruises. Not looking past DAL, but I want to see the Kings in round 2. Would be appropriate for Sutter to face his former team. I think we are set up for whoever comes out of the first round, just can't stand EDM. They seem to think they can get to the SCF. I think they have written off LA much like they did WPG. I like the odds against DAL. They play sloppy a lot more than NAS. Still have a couple of great scorers, but are not as physical as NAS> We play bigger against them. We don't have to take the eye off the ball and just go for hits.

Well, I am glad that trip is over. 3 games in 4 nights in 3 different cities. 2 went to OT. What a way for a division leader to finish the season. Back home and get a few days off then practoie time.

I know COL is better than they looked the last week or so, but they better get used to being pounded into the ice. NAS may not win the series but they are going to take a toll on COL. STL would have an answer for NAS (as well as CGY), but teams like COL are built to score like EDM. The good thing for us is that we don't have BSD coming to CGY with a chip on his shoulder. If NAS gets through this round, they are done in round 2.

Epic collapse for NAS. Just needed a single point.

He plays a game in relief then has to face COL. If you expect him to be a starter, yiu treat him like a starter. Give him a day off. Better result for Ritter because h knows he can beat COL.

No career win 700 for Sutter.

Stupid Hash Rate delay with the puck Tkachuk. Get the play moving. Oh well. Killed 2 off Johnny's +/-.

Finish this

No penalty. Did you see anything? Nope. Must be a penalty.

Stage 1 Complete Begin Stage 2 Really tired of the refs calling everything CGY and nothing WPG.