Friday, April 21, 2006

Sweet, Sweet Anticipation

Yes it's finally here.

Game 1, series 1. Play-offs.

Im experiencing a curious mix of excitement and anxiety. I think I kinda feel like a virgin on prom night - I know it's gonna be good, I just don't know how long it's gonna last.

On that note, let's set up the series:

Calgary:

- Mean, high-tempo forecheck, stingy defense, decent (top ten) special teams.
- Calgary depends on: Kiprusoff, Iginla, Regehr, Phaneuf.
- Calgary will have to:
1.) Get timely goals and secondary scoring.
2.) Shut down the Mcdonald, Selanne and Kunitz line.
3.) Exploit Anaheim's inexperience
4.) Play Disciplined and stay out of the box.

Anaheim:

- Fast, agile and shifty forwards, explosive offensive abilities, decent (top ten) special teams.
- Anaheim depends on: Niedermayer, Giguere, Selanne, Mcdonald.
- Anaheim will have to:
1.) Find a way to solve Flame's defense and Kiprusoff regularly.
2.) Overcome Calgary's dominant home record.
3.) Goad Calgary into taking a lot of penalties.
4.) Match Calgary's intensity and tenacity through-out the series.

I was tempted to list and compare a lot of stats, but I've decided not to. Partially because you've probably seen and heard it all already. And partially because, in a few days time, the regular season means precisely diddly-squat.

As for tonight, I think the electric atmostphere in the 'Dome will spur the Flames to victory. Keep your eyes on Jarome - an inspired performance by Captain Calgary will probably be a fine indicator of the Flame's future fortunes in this series...

GO FLAMES GO!!

2 comments:

sacamano said...

I'm so torn. Cheer against Calgary now, or hope that they make it to the Conference Final so that the Oilers can beat them then.

Both are so attractive.

Kent W. said...

Im equally as torn...

laugh at Edmonton's humiliation if they lose

-or-

cheer the removal of a signifcant obstacle (Detroit) if they win.

I guess I'll cheer for the latter since a BofA in the later rounds would be sweet.