Wings-Flames predictions
It seems everyone has their opinion on who will win and who won’t. Since I should be studying for finals and I’m planning on watching the Penguins/Senators game tonight (thank God for CBC here in Michigan), I’m only going to link to the predictions and pull a quote from their post. I don’t have time for further analysis, sorry! On Sunday, I posted my series preview and picked the Wings to win in six.
One thing I did notice, quite a few people called Calgary the “underdogs.” I even read a couple articles in the mass media about the Wings being viewed as underdogs. In the Western Conference, no one is an underdog. Each team from #1-8 could go all the way if things go right for them. Wings fans, especially, do NOT see the Flames as an underdog and I don’t think Flames’ fans see the Wings as underdogs.
If I missed your prediction for the Wings-Flames series, send me an email and I’ll post it here.
James Mirtle is going against the grain and picking the Wings to win in seven:
Series key: Hasek’s nether region, abductors, etc.
It doesn’t take a genius to see the similarities: The top-ranked Red Wings face off against an underdog club from Alberta in a series where the experts are all picking a Motown romp. The Flames are a brutal match-up to get for a No. 1 seed, but this is the Western Conference in the screwy, division-play heavy NHL, and this should be a terrific series. Injuries to Henrik Zetterberg, Todd Bertuzzi, Niklas Kronwall and Robyn Regehr could really affect what happens here, as could Calgary coach Jim Playfair’s ability to rein in his troops if things go awry early on. The Flames finally have some decent firepower to put out there, but it’s on the backend where some funny business has gone on this season. And if Hasek’s on his game, the Red Wings will be extremely difficult to score on with the way Nick Lidstrom has played this season. Home ice wins out in this one.
Spector thinks the Wings will head into the second round after 6 games:
Detroit Red Wings vs Calgary Flames. Split their four-game regular season series. The Flames have more offensive depth than in years past, making them tougher to defend against, but their defensive game hasn’t been as strong this season. The Wings have depth at all areas, with a good mix of experienced veterans and rising young talent, but could be missing some key players (Chelios, Zetterberg, Bertuzzi) to start this series. The Flames will play the Wings hard but ultimately Detroit’s depth should carry them through. WINGS IN SIX.
Duncan at the Flames Blog has six reasons why he is going with his favorite team, Calgary, to win the series:
3. CRAIG CONROY
This blog’s favourite player is just the leader the Flames needed to run shotgun with Jarome Iginla. As incredible as Iggy is, he couldn’t do it alone — and Games 6 and 7 against Anaheim during the 2006 playoffs, which were nothing short than a complete collapse for Calgary, proved it. Craig Conroy is the perfect compliment to Jarome Iginla, and is the kind of light touch needed on the bench when Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg and Nicklas Lidstrom start looking like the best players of all time.
My favorite prediction came from Covered in Oil. As bitter as I was last season about the Oilers beating my Wings, it was always entertaining reading this blog. Pleasure Motors, one of the four bloggers there, picks the Wings to sweep:
Burn in hell, Flames fans. Keep the chicken bones away from Jarmoe, and tell Kipper to watch his blocker side. I hope Tanguay blows out his knee so hard, his ACL flies forth from his body and blinds Robyn Regher. I slept with your mother and drew a portrait of Shawn Horcoff on her ass, with accurate eye details. And you lost the last game of the season to one of the worst teams in NHL history. (Spits). WINGS IN 4
Steal Thunder at Completely Hammered likes his Flames’ shot of winning this series:
Obviously I’m a whole lot biased in this one. I think the Flames have underperformed all season and are ready to come out of their funk. Of all the matchups that Calgary could have had, this is the one that best suits them. I think they match up quite favourably against the Red Wings and will surprise a fair number of people. But for more of my analysis, just check out my more in depth preview…
Flames in 6
Alanah at Canucks and Beyond is going with the Wings (gasp) to win in 6:
Kipper vs. Dom
I dislike both goalies so much, it makes my head hurt.
But while I fully expect Hasek’s groin to make a sudden ‘pinging’ sound sometime in the second game, I think the Red Wings will prevail.
P.S. No goalie nicknamed Kipper will ever win a Stanley Cup. You can take that one to the bank, my friends.
Jes Golbez posted at the NHL Fanhouse his thoughts, the Flames in seven:
Flames in 7. The Wings PP woes (21st in the NHL) and offensive questions marks will likely prevent them from beating Kiprusoff and the Flames will knock off the Wings, sending Detroit home early again.
IwoCPO at Abel to Yzerman is going with his team, the Wings, to win it in 5:
Oh, the ailments. Zetterberg. Bertuzzi. Lidstrom. Hasek. Chelios. Calgary’s grit will certainly wear them down. Certainly inflict pain like the Wings have never known. Mike Babcock can’t speak. He can’t utter a phrase that doesn’t sound like Dr. Seuss minus predicate phrases. Jerome Iginla is too good. Kipper’s going to steal 4. Datsyuk chokes. Hasn’t scored in 26 playoff games. Saddledome’s too loud. Hurts our ears. Wings can’t fill a seat. Nobody cares anymore. Lang’s lazy, but his hair looks nice. Hasek’s a headcase. He wanders too much. Dion Phaneuf has a chick’s name but hits like a truck and shoots mind bullets from the blue line. Bad, bad, bad. Sadness must surely ensue.
Copyranter @ Deadspin can’t pick a winner for this series:
Detroit Red Wings vs. Calgary Flames. Ah, here’s some intrigue. #1 vs. #8. The Motor City vs. oil-soaked Cowtown. Hasek vs. Kiprusoff between the pipes. At times, the Red Wings looked like the team that won the Stanley Cup three times between 1997 and 2002. But Flames captain Jarome Iginla is a playoff player, while Detroit’s leader scorer, Pavel Datsyuk, has netted three goals in 42 post-season games. Look for 45-year-old Detroit backliner Chris Chelios to play 45 minutes a game. Somebody in 6-7. I can’t call it.
Metrognome at Five Hole Fanatics thinks Calgary will win in seven:
In conclusion, I think the Flames have a good chance to pull off an upset, assuming, of course, Nervous Jimmy can mold them into a cohesive unit. Detroit is a good team - but not 1st seed good. Their marshmallow division has once again set them up for a precipitous fall, methinks. In addition, their injury concerns may be the tipping point in a closely battled series.
Brett Hull and Don Cherry pick the Flames to win the series and possibly the Cup:
Cherry said he’s rooting for all three Canadian teams in the playoffs and “Calgary especially.”
“There’s something about that Calgary club that reminds me of old-time hockey,” he said. “They’re all scarred up and everything like that.”
The Flames are Hull’s dark-horse pick to go all the way.
“If there’s a team that reminds me of Edmonton last year, it’s Calgary,” he said. “I don’t understand their difficulties on the road but they’re unbeatable at home.
“If there is one team that has home-ice advantage in the NHL it’s the Calgary Flames. It’s an intimidating building to go into.”
Are the Red Wings tough enough to withstand Calgary’s pounding?
“That’s a million-dollar question,” responded Hull. “If there’s any team that has the toughest row to hoe right now it’s the Detroit Red Wings.”
If there are a lot of penalties assessed, “that’ll play right into Detroit’s hands,” said Cherry.
Dave @ Gorilla Crouch likes the Wings chances in seven:
I think the first two games will go a long way towards deciding this series. If Detroit takes both games they will be in excellent shape to win this series. If Calgary takes just one game they are going to make it very difficult for Detroit to come back and win this series.
Given the fact Calgary has struggled a bit of late against top 10 offenses (3.4 goals allowed and going 2-4 over the past month), that one of their top defensemen is dealing with an injury and is questionable, and also given how good Detroit is at home and how much the Flames have struggled on the road, I predict Detroit will win this series in 7 games.
Jeremy Roenick @ TSN picks Calgary:
Now I love Dominik Hasek. He was a teammate of mine in Chicago and a great guy.
But an interesting aspect of his game is that he bitches and complains more than any other goaltender in the NHL. If you get into his crease and give him a little nudge and get him off his game, he’ll go ballistic. He’ll throw his stick, yell at the players, yell at the referees and get off his game.
If Calgary wants any chance of winning, they should give Dominik a little bump or elbow. The guy will freak out!
Steph @ No Pun Intended thinks the Wings will win in 6 games:
My prediction, for the record was Wings in six - but the more important question this series will bring us is whether or not HG and I will still be friends when it’s over. It will take lots of pie and Slurpees, but I think we can do it.
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April 11th, 2007 at 5:56 pm
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April 12th, 2007 at 9:14 am
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