Flames in the cup final

[ethan]

Well look at that... First canadian team in the cup finals since 1994 and its the Calgary Flames, a team that hasn't made the playoffs in 7 years...

I said before the playoffs started that this would be a tough team to beat, but no way did I think that they'd roll all the way to the cup finals... beating the top three teams in the West in the process (or at least the division winners)...

I'd obviously rather the habs be there, but living in Calgary and considering that the habs are out, its been easy to jump on the bandwagon, I'm loving every minute of it...
Go Flames GO!

[jhyrb]

I must say, i'm very impressed with the Flames.

May the hockey gods smile on their work ethic.


Cheers.
Jhyrb.

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

Even though it may mean editing my sig - GO FLAMES GO!

[Roggy]

Was at the game last night...WOW.

I've never heard the 'dome rock like that, even at the Metallica concert. That place was absolutely nuts for the last 2 minutes of the game. You couldn't hear yourself think after the time-out in the last 15 seconds.

We walked down 17th Ave after the game, I don't think the rain detered a single person from going out to party. All those CBC shots of people clogging the road, that went on for about 8 blocks. I'd guess there was 50,000 people out there, minimum. Absolutely amazing. I've never witnessed anything like that in my life, and this coming from the Stampede city where the whole city shuts down for a week and parties. Un-freaking-believeable.

I have to say that I'm firmly entrenched on the Flames bandwagon, as when I walked into the Dome last night, we felt so out of place without a jersey on, that we bought 2. Three months ago, if you told me I'd be wearing a Flames jersey, I'd have laughed in your face and told you where to go.

Go Flames Go!

[blny]

I've been impressed with Calgary from the onset, and like Ethan thought they could be a real handful. They have all the necessary components working. Great defence, great goaltending, a team that plays within a system, strong forechecking, a great combo of size and speed, unknowns that become heroes, and goals from more than one line.

I'm not sure if it's the "Gelinas Factor" or not, but it seems that Gelinas has a real habit of being on improbable teams. The 1990 Oilers, the 1994 Canucks, the 2002 Canes, and now the Flames. Sure the Canucks and Canes couldn't win it all, but it wasn't for a lack of effort from Gelinas. He's an amazing playoff performer. Who's the last player to score the series winner in three straight rounds in one playoff year?

The defence on the team deserves a lot of credit. The crew is getting the job done with Montador and Commodore. Neither guy has a full season in the NHL under his belt. Leopold has been rock solid, and he's only been around a couple of years. Ference is making Pittsburgh wish they'd kept him. Warriner and Regehr are the two work horses.

Aside from the play of Iggy and Conroy, some other forwards deserve some credit. I've been thoroughly impressed with Nieminen's play. He's been a pest, a physical presence, and chipped in some offense. Nilson has also used his size well, and scored a couple of important goals. Oleg Saprikyn has been great. He's played a couple of different roles and done a great job at each. Donovan and Clark have been great forecheckers. It was evident last night when they both erased two separate icings that could have resulted in faceoffs in their end. Great hustle late in the game.

I like their chances more than I did Anaheim's. Unlike the Ducks, Calgary isn't relying on one player to win it for them every night. There are regulars that make their presence felt every game, but no one player has it all to do for the Flames. The Ducks were all about Giguere. I think the Flames match up well against both the Bolts and the Flyers. Calgary can match Tampa's speed, and they're plenty big enough and plenty physical enough to handle Philly.

My worry with Tampa would be the two pronged attack. Calgary hasn't faced anyone yet that has two lines going well. Tampa does. IMO the harder series to win would be Tampa for sure. Philly is looking beat up. There are a slew of injuries to key players, and there aren't enough guys scoring. Amonte has no goals in the series, Gagne has zip too. Tampa's goaltending is also a lot better.

I think the more entertaining series would be Calgary Tampa. Two teams that don't trap, skate hard, and skate fast. Two teams with strong goaltending and multiple lines scoring. The edge would be special teams, and Tampa would have it. Calgary just hasn't been good enough on the PP. Their PK is great though. It better be, because they can ill afford to take penalties against that Bolts team.

Congrats to the Flames on a great season that I hope gets greater.