It's the most wonderful time of year for a hockey fan (whose team has made the play-offs. Sorry Edmonton boosters). Infected with post-season excitement and inspired by Matt's optimism, here's some reasons I think the Flame could potentially take this series:
I like Jarome Iginla -
His 50 goals and 98 points were best in the Western Conference. Better than Datsyuk and Thornton, both of whom played on better squads with arguably better line-mates. He's an elite forward, top-notch Captain and proven play-off performer.
More to the point, I like Jarome more than Joe Thornton, the Sharks primary difference maker. I picked jumbo Joe in the first round of a play-off pool a couple years ago and as a result was motivated to watch him intently as the post-season progressed. I was left...unimpressed, to say the least. Unless the puck was deep in the offensive zone and the Sharks were on the PP, Joe was an underwhelming presence. He lolly-gagged around his own end and managed to look...bored I guess is the best way to describe it, more often than not. He wasn't overly urgent or physical and he caused way more turn-overs than goals with his low-percentage passes down low.
I like Miikka Kiprusoff -
I was tough on old Kipper this year, but he really started to get it together down the stretch. In fact, he was probably the primary reason the Flames won some games in February and March. If Kipper can be the man he was at the end of this season - and in the play-offs last year - he gives Calgary a legitimate chance to steal a couple of games.
I like Dion Phaneuf and Robyn Regehr -
Phaneuf took a few steps forward this year and is a legit Norris Candidate to some. His defensive game has improved and he's more than just a "big shot" on the point on the other end of the ice. He's the Flames best hitter, skater and passer from the back-end and he has a lot to prove this year considering his struggles in play-offs past.
Regehr, on the hand, isn't much of a threat to score. He is, however, still the best shut-down option on the team and gets the job done better than anyone else on the club in the defensive zone. If Reggies can avoid "Vancouver nights" and consistently suppress Joe Thornton's scoring levels, Calgary's probabilities for success improve greatly.
I like the improvement of the supporting players -
Lombardi, Yelle, Nilson and Primeau have all looked like guys that can actually contribute over the last 4 weeks or so, a change primarily spear-headed by Lombo. The fast-skating center really looks like he's taken the next step after flailing around in a rather tough situation for much of the season. He led all Calgary forwards in ice-time more than once in March despite rarely playing on the PP and has consistently been a threat to score or draw penalties over the last quarter of the season.
Fun Lombardi fact - he was a minus player in only 2 of his final 23 games. He had 3 goals and 6 points in the last 9 games of the year as well.
Tonight -
Lots of questions. Does Conroy go back with Nolan and Tanguay? Do they take on Thornton et al? Where does Lombardi play if so (probably with Primeau and Yelle I guess). Also, I noticed Eriksson with Aucoin in the third pairing during the last match against the Canucks - here's hoping Keenan sticks with that pairing so Wilson can't feast on a Phaneuf/Eriksson duo all night long.
Good news out of San Jose is that Christian Ehrhoff is injured and unavailable for game 1. the Sharks resultant top 4 is Campbell-Murray and McLaren-Rivet. Not terrible, but hardly fearsome. If Calgary can stay out of the box and get Jarome out as much as possible, he should be able to do some damage against those pairings.
Prediction - Not even gonna dare.
Go Flames!
Sharks perspectives here, here and here.
