Colin Dambrauskas: Flames Taking Early Beat Down; Should We Count Them Out!?

not the start Calgary was looking for...

must win next game!

YES

They were done before they started, mind you, so were the Canucks....Ducks are good!!

Gio back would be huge

Hartley on CBC Radio this am. "We may be down 2 games to nothing but Holy Cow we're going home"

One game at a time.

Go Flames!

It will be a five game series at most. My bracket said 6 though. Ducks are way too big and deep, and appear to have a focus that has been absent the last couple of years. Their time is now (this year and next) and the players know it. Although a Ducks fan, I've really enjoyed watching Calgary this year with their never say die attitude. Hard-working ALWAYS up to the final whistle. With the addition of some needed size and a rounded-out roster (including goalies), Calgary within 2-3 years will be a force.

We got them right where we want them!
Ducks will be way over confident with the way the 2 games have gone!
12 more wins!

Lets see what they can do on home ice, win two here then they will be just fine.

Can never call a series until each team has had a game at home.

Calgary played way better in game 2, don't see how you can top Ana though.

Last night I made a comment to my seat mates that I couldn't remember the last time I saw the Ducks play this focused. This is not the same team we saw in the regular season. Calgary will have to play 4 perfect games to beat them. It's possible, but doubtful. Playing in Calgary won't intimidate the Ducks, they went into Winnipeg and the "whiteout" and won both games.

The Ducks took their last two playoff disappointments and learned from them. Should Calgary ultimately lose this series, they'll learn from this loss and be better for it, make no mistake.

As I said on the last thread...maybe its time (and worth) a $50,000 fine... I can see BB tearing down the hall trying to get at Hartley..

Hey somethings got to get this team going... its all about...

Flames will probably win 1 at home. I think the crowd will get them jacked up enough to give the Ducks a handful both games & then lose in Game 5. Our defence has over achieved since Gio went down. Personally, Wideman has had a great year but I doubt we see the same next year. Gio Brody & Russell are probably going to be the same next year, which is friggin awesome. BT needs to address that blue line this summer. Our D just can't handle the Ducks, maybe a healthy Gio would have put a different perspective on things. Oh well...

Whatever happens, been a great year, been a blast to go to the Dome in beautiful weather, our young guys now know how a top contending team plays. I gotta say, I didn't expect the Ducks to be so focused either. They look good, going to be a humdinger conference final with them & probably the Hawks. They are looking pretty damn good as well.

Thing with me is,
Regular season was a bonus
Happy Flames made the playoffs
Great we beat Vancouver

Playoff depth is rearing it's ugly head. Anaheim has shown we are too small to compete with the big boys. When the games get meaningful, we have a hard time keeping the puck. We need talent with size, hopefully this is addressed in the draft, or off season.

Paul Bitner 6'4" 200lb left winger

Calgary's not out of it yet. But they need to win these two at home and have a significant injury to Anaheim occur for them to prevail this year.

Johnny Gaudreau was one of my favorites to watch this season, but he looks like he's avoiding contact instead of playing hockey. Maybe we can call him Johnny Thornton from now on in tribute to Jumbo. Johnny Shrimp would do it too.

Cogliano is one inch taller and admittedly 37 pounds heavier than Gaudreau is. But he's the reigning iron man in the league at 5'10", 187. And he hits everyone. He hit Byfuglien (80 pounds Cogliano's senior) multiple times in the last round (and bounced off like a fly). Maybe Johnny should look at Cogs and put on some muscle so he can survive the playoffs.

Ducks look great. We played a better game overall, regardless of the loss. We are home now, so hopefully we can do something there. This is fun and I'm happy with the team. Can't wait for more progress.

Ducks look great. We played a better game overall, regardless of the loss. We are home now, so hopefully we can do something there. This is fun and I'm happy with the team. Can't wait for more progress.
- Drakaland

I love watching this team even as frustrating as the last two games have been. I need to make a stop in chat one of these nights, maybe that'll change their fortune.

Calgary's not out of it yet. But they need to win these two at home and have a significant injury to Anaheim occur for them to prevail this year.

Johnny Gaudreau was one of my favorites to watch this season, but he looks like he's avoiding contact instead of playing hockey. Maybe we can call him Johnny Thornton from now on in tribute to Jumbo. Johnny Shrimp would do it too.

Cogliano is one inch taller and admittedly 37 pounds heavier than Gaudreau is. But he's the reigning iron man in the league at 5'10", 187. And he hits everyone. He hit Byfuglien (80 pounds Cogliano's senior) multiple times in the last round (and bounced off like a fly). Maybe Johnny should look at Cogs and put on some muscle so he can survive the playoffs.
- yzermaneely

Johnny hasn't initiated contact much this year at all. His game is to avoid contact.

Thing with me is,
Regular season was a bonus
Happy Flames made the playoffs
Great we beat Vancouver

Playoff depth is rearing it's ugly head. Anaheim has shown we are too small to compete with the big boys. When the games get meaningful, we have a hard time keeping the puck. We need talent with size, hopefully this is addressed in the draft, or off season.

Paul Bitner 6'4" 200lb left winger
- K-man25

Should they fall out in this round, and it's not over until it's over....

I like the thought in Bitner, but I think I would consider Lawson Crouse, Mikko Rantanen, or Timo Meier ahead of him. (all in the same size category). Would probably have to try to trade up for one of them, but not excessively. Should they be eliminated they would draft 15th overall, and they do have 3 2nd round picks to sweeten deals with.

I know there is talk that they need to address the defence, but after the upper defensemen (Hanafin, Werenski, Provorov) I think that they will get something on relatively equal defensive footing with their 2nd round picks. So address the top 6 power forward options that may be needed. Personally I like Crouse for his proven chemistry with Bennett, but may be hard to get him.

Since Hartley can match lines games 3 and 4 I expect to see more goals. And at least 1 win in the next 2 games. The Hudler Money JG line has been severly outclassed so far, so this should help. The game was much closer than the score though, especially after the first 20, which gives me hope.

Johnny hasn't initiated contact much this year at all. His game is to avoid contact.
- Ol_Boy_Wop

Yeah, but he's avoiding plays now. When he makes plays it's a thing of beauty. And he usually wriggles that little body out of full contact. He just looks intimidated now. He needs to snap out of it.

Yeah, but he's avoiding plays now. When he makes plays it's a thing of beauty. And he usually wriggles that little body out of full contact. He just looks intimidated now. He needs to snap out of it.
- yzermaneely

I saw him run head on into a few guys last night. Which was weird. Maybe it was him getting run into.

Yeah, but he's avoiding plays now. When he makes plays it's a thing of beauty. And he usually wriggles that little body out of full contact. He just looks intimidated now. He needs to snap out of it.
- yzermaneely

The fact his 2 linemates are hurt might have something to do with it.