WCQF Game 1: Calgary Flames vs Colorado Avalanche | 8 PM MST | CBC, NBCSN, TVAS, SN, ALT

[TychoFan]

Fun game, happy that Smith had such a great performance, now that he has 20 games, he will soon show up as the top playoff goalie in terms of Save % and top active goalie for GAA. I will enjoy that for the short time that it lasts!

NHL Goalies ‑ All-Time Playoff Save Percentage Leaders

NHL Goalies ‑ All-Time Playoff Goals Against Average Leaders

 

[Zirakzigil]

Smith is in the Avs head.

Flames played a pretty solid game. Thought the first 40min was boring. Flames were the better team 5on5. Definitely better overall.

 

[MonyontheMoney]

It’s cute...Flames fans actually think Sam “Can’t Do A Pull-Up” Bennett will apparently be some physical force that derails the Avs. If Bennett tries any dirty ****, Zadorov will beats his ass so bad he’ll make sure Bennett is tasting Tkachuk’s spinal fluid!

Then the rest of the Flames will just expose Zadorov for the liability he is where he’s slotted.

 

[cheechoo]

It's like the opposite of game 1 last year when COL planted a seed in Rinne's head..... and Smith is not as good as Rinne!

Playoff Smith is up there with any goalie in the league

 

[johnnystormcgy]

Swede vs Swede scrum to end the game.

As Darryl Sutter once said, "I love the Swedes."

 

[Rubi]

The score was not indicative of the game by any means. This could have easily been a win for the Avs if it werent for Mike Smith and I never thought I would be saying he was the difference in a positive way for the Flames.

We'll just quietly ignore being outshot by the Flames 32-26.

 

[Scrantonicity 2]

It will be tough for the Avs to win a game
In this series

I doubt it. They played decent enough tonight, just ran into a hot goalie.

 

[crazyfisherman]

C'mon don't be a homer. He was generating chances. He had 5 SOG.

Was it 5v5? Watch the game, 3M line had the line under control pretty much the whole game

 

[CgyFlamesftw]

Flames won the 5v5 wtf everyone smoking. Few fast rushes from Mackinnon and you think they played better? Lmao.

 

[S E P H]

Bennett is gonna tune in Landeskog.

Yeah, no doubt about that. An untreated psychopath will remain a psychopath.

Flames got the win, but man that was some terrible hockey to watch on all sides. That looked like a second from a back-to-back for both teams.

 

[Tralfamadore]

Flames won the 5v5 wtf everyone smoking. Few fast rushes from Mackinnon and you think they played better? Lmao.

Don't think Colorado won the 5v5 was just saying MacKinnon was certainly generating scoring chances at even strength.

 

[CaptainCrunch67]

The difference in depth really showed up in this game. Calgary was better 5v5 and their special teams were effective.

That depth is going to become a bigger factor moving forward.

 

[c9777666]

Do you go back to Varlamov in game 2 or did Grubauer play better than 4-0 indicates?

 

[Spilot23]

Great game Flames !! Saturday is another day I hope a hungry Avs team comes out. I said before the series starts that our special team gonna have to step up. We need our PP to start working against a good team like that. They scored their 2nd goal on the PP. We need our special teams to make the difference.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

Yup, Landeskog is. That's why he got thrown out of the game for a cheap shot. LOL

"Cheap shot", he barely slashed him, it wasnt some huge 2 hander like cassie campbell would like you all to believe.

That being said. Smith was amazing tonight, flames will be hard to beat if they get goaltending like this consistently.

 

[S E P H]

Avs played with the Flames. Very even game. Mike Smith was the difference and if he somehow can continue this I can see the Flames going all the way. That was an unbelievable performance by him.

Not really at all, every single save was without a screen. Avs made Smith look good than Smith being actually amazing.

 

[Makar Goes Fast]

Do you go back to Varlamov in game 2 or did Grubauer play better than 4-0 indicates?

he def shouldve stopped the 4th one.........

 

[Alex Jones]

Yea and tkachuk is the dirtiest player in the series lmao. Its landeskog and not even close

I know that he had a poor season so everybody forgot that he exists, but you could pretty much take out half of the other team and still not be close to the shit James Neal did back in the day.

 

[Flaming Satan]

I don't think I really appreciated it until now but holy f*** Mackinnon is good.

 

[Snakepit]

We'll just quietly ignore being outshot by the Flames 32-26.

HALF of those shots coming on the PP

 

[cheechoo]

Flames won the 5v5 wtf everyone smoking. Few fast rushes from Mackinnon and you think they played better? Lmao.

Impressive how the Flames neutralized and shut down a playoff game like this, but then again their opposition is a borderline playoff team anyways. One spectacular forward + one pretty good up and coming forward + a overrated bum captain who's reputation lives on "intangibles" + garbage juice after that.

No team with Tyson Barrie as their #1 d (or anywhere near their top pairing for that matter) will ever prosper

 

[JeremyTB]

Avs played with the Flames. Very even game. Mike Smith was the difference and if he somehow can continue this I can see the Flames going all the way. That was an unbelievable performance by him.

You can say that about any goaltender. If Jones plays great the Sharks could go all the way, If Holtby plays great the Caps could repeat, Leafs could win the cup if Anderson plays great etc etc.

 

[2023FriendshipTour]

I don't think I really appreciated it until now but holy **** Mackinnon is good.

Top 5 player in the league. Didn't notice Land or Rant much. Barrie was good to.

 

[cheechoo]

B-b-b-but we took Nashville to 6 !

 

[GirardIsStupid]

I don't think I really appreciated it until now but holy **** Mackinnon is good.

Congrats on series win.