Chicago Blackhawks (4) vs. Calgary Flames (5)
By the time Friday morning rolls around, Flames fans should have a good idea of the kind of playoff series they will witness. Even if Thursday’s game 1 results in a loss, a hard fought, spirited effort should make for a long and entertaining series that the Flames will have a decent chance to win. If the Flames come out flat, it will highlight their perceived lack of confidence against Chicago and the Blackhawks might make very quick work of the injury riddled Calgary boys. For a team still searching for some semblance of an identity, game 1 might just be the biggest of the series. A bad loss, and everyone will be writing off the Flames as unable to beat the Blackhawks. 0-4 during the regular season, and a goalie in Nikolai Khabibulin that has always saves his best for Calgary. But stop the presses if the Flames can win the first one. Monkey off the back, Khabibulin solved, home ice stolen…advantage Calgary.
Chicago will win the series…
- If Regehr and Sarich both miss the entire round. I just can’t see Kane, Havlat, Sharp, and Toews being contained when the Flames don’t have their top 2 shutdown D-men in the lineup. And with the already defensively suspect Phaneuf not at 100%, Calgary will be in tough to prevent scoring chances. Knock the Jokinen trade all you want, but thank our dear Lord Darryl Sutter that we have Jordan Leopold.
- If Jarome Iginla doesn’t get his superman cape on.
- If Khabibulin continues to thrive against Calgary shooters.
Calgary will win the series…
- If Rene Bourque plays like he did before the injury. I don’t think you can overstate is importance to this team. The Flames were a .500 team since Bourque and Giordano were hurt, and don’t kid yourself, Bourque was the individual the team missed the most when the injury bug bit.
- If Jarome Iginla can play like he did against San Jose last year.
- If they win game 1.
- If Miikka is Miikka. Kiprusoff has to give the Flames great, not good, but great goaltending.
Final prediction: Because I believe the Flames will win game 1, I’ll pick the Flames in 6. W-L-W-W-L-W. But If Calgary loses game 1, then Hawks in 7. L-L-W-W-L-W-L
Boston Bruins (1) vs. Montreal Canadiens (8) – Bruins in 4
Washington Capitals (2) vs. NY Rangers (7) – Caps in 5
NJ Devils (3) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (6) – ‘Canes in 7
Pittsburgh Penguins (4) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (5) – Pens in 6
San Jose Sharks (1) vs. Anaheim Ducks (8) – Sharks in 6
Detroit Red Wings (2) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets – Red Wings in 6
Vancouver Canucks (3) vs. St. Louis Blues (6) – Canucks in 7
