Calgary Flames: Possible Playoff Matchups

(Photo by Mike Ridewood/Getty Images)

When the Calgary Flames took a break while their captain headed off to the All-Star game, they were standing strong above the Northwest Division with roughly a 10-point cliff for any competitors to climb in order to catch them.

Then the walls came crashing down.  Since then, the Flames have gone 10–10–3 and have seen their lead cut to just three points. That’s basically .500, on par with teams such as Ottawa and St. Louis (who they just lost to). 

Not helping this was the plague of injuries that hit them. At one point, Calgary’s third, fourth, and fifth highest scorers (Todd Bertuzzi, Daymond Langkow, and Rene Bourque) were out of the line up due to injury.

Bottom line, my precious Flames have not been burning as brightly or fiercely as I would like.

However, not all is lost.  Few teams can outgun the Flames, who have burned the opposition a total of 233 times, and Kiprusoff can still steal games just as well as any goalie in the NHL.

I still hold out hope that come playoff time, and with the return of Bourque and Bertuzzi (hopefully in time for the playoffs), they will rediscover that spark and make a definite impression in the post-season.

That being said, I will take a look at the possible match-ups for the Flames in the first round, and give my analyses and predictions.

Calgary vs. Columbus

These two teams have split the three games that they have played right down the middle.  Or at least, as close as you can come to it in today's NHL.  Calgary won the last two meetings, but one was in a shootout.

Led by Rick Nash and Steve Mason, with a supporting cast the likes of RJ Umberger and Kristian Huselius, Columbus could give any team a run for its money in a single game. 

But Calgary's physical play and phenomenal scoring depth will wear them out fast over the course of a series.

Calgary in six.

Calgary vs. Edmonton

So far, this series is also split down the middle, with another shootout win going to Calgary.  The only difference is that the Flames lost two of four, rather than one of three.

Once again the Flames have the edge on scoring and depth, but expect the Oilers to play just as physically in what would be (as always) an epic Battle of Alberta. 

Kiprusoff will be solid, and will give the Flames the solid goaltending they need to deal with the Oilers in their own end.

Calgary in five.

Calgary vs. Nashville

Calgary has dominated the season series, winning all four games.  However, not one win has been easy. The only game that was won by more than a single goal featured a four goal third period and a hat trick by the Flames captain, Jarome Iginla.

Given the fact that the season series was a sweep, I was almost tempted to assign the same result to the post-season series.  But considering the closeness of every single game, I thought the better of it.

Calgary in five.

Calgary vs. St. Louis

Up until Saturday, the Flames had beaten St. Louis in every game by a combined total of six goal over three games.  All that changed with two goals 51 seconds apart and a third-period loss for Calgary. 

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