Even if tonight proves to be the last game of the season for the Flames, I've been relatively impressed with the boys performance in this series. They've matched one of the best teams in the league step-for-step and every single game has been close and hard-fought. It's certainly a far-cry from the limp, embarrassing performance they put in against the Wings last year and provides a modicum of hope heading into the off-season.
Course, my pseudo-eulogy could prove to be a bit pre-mature. Calgary may have lost the last game but they probably out-chanced the Sharks and were the better team on the ice aside from a few (but crucial) brain cramps. They have a good chance to win this game - and potentially the series - if they can keep it up.
Some of the Flames difference makers have been full value the last few nights. Jarome Iginla has proven to be the best player on both teams so far and his continued excellence may push the Flames over the top in the end. Dion Phaneuf has had some hiccups in his own end, but is still one of the league leaders in terms of scoring from the back-end and looks 500X times better than he has in the play-offs previously. After a rough first game, Robyn Regehr and Cory Sarich have been bloody fierce in their own end of the ice. And Matthew Lombardi, while still pointless, continues to be a significant presence in the defensive zone and on the PP. He's also generated a number of quality chances in the Sharks end and his 0 in the P column is more due to Nabokov or the offensive ineptitude of his line-mates than his own failings.
Since this may be my last chance to this, here's what I'd do if I were Keenan tonight:
Forwards:
Tanguay-Conroy-Iginla
Match this trio with the Thornton line. Sub in Lombardi if Conroy continues to struggle. We've seen previously that Iginla/Tanguay can out-play Thornton et al at ES. Keenan should therefore exploit this match-up on home ice.
Huselius-Langkow-Nolan
Play these guys against softer competition as much as possible. I still think Juice can do damage if managed properly.
Yelle-Conroy/Lombardi-Moss
Match them against Marleau's line at ES, depending on where he lands in the Sharks roster (ie: away from Thorton). Their mandate should be to spend as much time in the offensive zone as possible and limit chances against.
Nilson-Boyd-Primeau
Sit Nystrom and Godard, who are craters at ES, and sub in Boyd who can at least do something in the offensive end and on the PP. Reserve them for the soft underbelly and occassionally replace Iginla for Primeau. Boyd+Iggy against the Sharks 4th line might yield some quality chances now and then. Otherwise the regular trio including Nilson and Primeau shouldn't be as big a liability as the previous Godard-led combination(s).
Defensemen:
Sarich-Regehr
DUH!
Phaneuf-Vandermeer
Ideally, Vandy isn't top-4 guy and he had a rough night in game 5, but h still seems to be the best option to skate with Dion.
Aucoin-Hale
Aucoin has looked pretty awful lately. His lack of speed and agility have been gleefully exploited by some of the Sharks speedier players. Hale was sat in favor of Eriksson last game, but I still prefer him to the bumbling boobery of Bubba.
Feel free to add your own combos in the comments.
Prediction - a nerve-wracking OT ending.
Go Flames!
