Well Calgary SHOULD win based on the fact that we've lost arguably our biggest gamebreaker (Bertuzzi) and now our #1 goaltender (Cloutier).
This series has been everything it's been billed to be - a war of attrition. Ohlund/Iginla is only gonna get more brutal in game #4 after the cross-check and fight.
This has been a great series. I agree with fuelinjected's comment that the Iginla/Ohlund battle should only get better and more intense.
As much as I like Dan Cloutier, though, I don't think we lose too much by going to Hedberg. He gives up fewer rebounds and is far superior in puckhandling. He will single-handedly cause the Flames to revamp their dump-ins and forechecking system. The fact that he is so good with the puck should also save the Canucks' D-men fronm a few hits on the end boards.
I'm looking for tonight to be the most physical game thus far... Can't wait
"...Don't the sun look angry through the trees? Don't the trees look like crucified thieves?" --Warren Zevon, Desperadoes Under the Eaves
I'm not doubting that Hedberg CAN be really good but about a month ago when Cloutier was out for a few games there, Hedberg cost the Canucks three wins in a row by giving away the puck which directly led to goals.
Cloutier's rebounds are a different style of play that is being taught to goaltender's. Giguere and many of the Quebec born goaltenders play it. The shots are so hard now that goalies are told to kick out the rebounds as far as possible, if they can, so that it lead to odd-man rushes down the ice.
Cloutier's main problem is down low. He doesn't do a good enough job staying strong and protecting the goal line in close shots. It's really a shame though because he was playing pretty good in the series and really good in that first period before he got hurt.
And to The Goon, I'll be at Game #5 in Vancouver waving a white towel. :b
I think the biggest difference between Cloutier and Hedberg is with Cloutier you know what you're going to get. He'll be OK and make most of the stops he should make, but he's not going to steal any games for you. He's consistently average. Hedberg, on the other hand, is one extreme or the other. He'll either play well enough to steal the series for you or he'll be so bad that you might as well not even show up. He looked decent on Sunday night, and if he's on his game he's a better guy to have in there than Cloutier.
The frustrating thing about this series (and I'm cheering for Calgary), is that the Flames are outplaying Vancouver most of the time but they just can't score. If they can get a couple early tonight and get into a bit of a rhythm, I think this series could go the other way in a hurry. Problem is, once you get it in your head that you can't finish it can make for a very tough time (see Flyers vs. Ottawa the last two years).
But yes, overall, awesome series so far. If Iginla's already fighting in game three, I can't wait to see what's happening by the end.
Fan-friggin-tastic Game 4. The knock on the Flames was their penalty killing and lack of secondary scoring...and then Game 4 comes along and the Flamers win 4-0 (going perfect on the penalty kill).
Wow. Excellent game, lots of checking. And if you want heel heat, try being Ed Jovanovski in Calgary. Man, that arena HATES that guy.
I was on top of the Vancouver net for the three Calgary goals in the second period. I don't think I've ever been in a more intense sports atmosphere. The Saddledome was louder than most concerts I've been to.
What a game, wow. I took this great photo of Kiprusoff coming out to accept the game's first star with Harvey the Hound bowing before him.
As loud as the crowd was for the goals, I think we cheered even louder when Jovo got sent to the box late in the third.
Originally posted by fuelinjectedYou guys gotta learn how to pick your spots with the goalie taunt chants a little better but it has been eight years.
I mean, chanting "Hedberg" or "Hedberg Sucks" when the Canucks are in the other end on a Power Play is just a waste of a chant.
That's interesting, because I noticed that happening during another series as well. I think it was in Montreal, with the fans chanting at Raycroft. Mind boggling.
LOL-It's all perspective. I get asked all the time by friends in Toronto how it has been adjusting to living in a small town.
On the other hand, I met some people who were leaving Calgary to go back to Victoria because Calgary was too much of a big city.
I will be trying online to get tickets to tomorrow night's game. If the Flames win, it's going to be pandemonium here. I already got caught up in an impromptu parade on 17th Ave when the Flames won Game 4.
It's now Calgary's series to lose and that fourth win is always the hardest to get.
The Canucks are REALLY missing Bertuzzi in this series. He'd be going in and crushing Regehr and Leopold on every play like he did to Chelios, MacInnis, Jackman, and others in the past couple years. He usually plays with two lines during the game too.
It's just too big of a hole to fill. I actually would have rather had the Canucks play Dallas or Colorado in the 1st round because they play the wide open style that the Canucks have to play now without Bertuzzi.
I agree with fuelinjected regarding the absence of Bertuzzi. The 'Nucks are having massive problems getting to the net. Our relatively small forwards simply can't penetrate the slot against the large and tough Calgary D-men. There was improvement in this area in the 3rd period, though, and I expect that the Canucks will finally bring 60 minute intensity if game 6. While Kipprusoff has played really well, he can be beaten if there are enough shots from close in. Right now most of the Canucks' offence is coming from outside with no traffic or screen. I expect better in game 6.
I think this series is coming back to Vancouver for game 7.
"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts" --Bertrand Russell
The key to this series has just been the Flames not letting the game open up at all. The Flames' big four defensemen (Robyn Regehr, Jordan Leopold, Rhett Warrener & Denis Gauthier) are punishing everything in sight...and allowing Miikka Kiprusoff to make the key saves. Plus, the Canucks are double-covering Jarome Iginla...and that allows the other four players on the ice to get more chances. Plus, Iginla has gotten better as the series has progressed...and he's managed to beat out the Canucks defenders and get some good scoring chances.
Man oh man, 17th is gonna be INSANE on Saturday night!
Thread ahead: Toronto/Ottawa - If the Sens can't beat the Leafs now when can they beat them Next thread: Best song ever (funny and true) Previous thread: No Commercials in OT?
Yeah, so, remember how in the regional coverage thread, I mentioned that I had a story to tell about hockey? Here we go. At my college, our big sport is hockey. It's the reason we moved up to Division I about five or six years ago.