Calgary vs Colorado

[Foppberg]

Lets be real here. Varlamov has not looked good the past 2 games, he has not kept the score close and allowed some soft goals. Trying to convince people otherwise is pointless.

Varlamov has been fantastic this season, not struggling.

 

[biturbo19]

Avs fan saying Flames.

Avs may have the better first line but Calgary is deeper everywhere else. Avs have the advantage in net as well but it's not a big enough advantage to swing a series in the Avs favour.

Yeah. Flames are just a much deeper team all over. That kinda thing tends to have a way of making a difference over a best of seven series.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

Varlamov has been fantastic this season, not struggling.

As a whole I agree, but you can't deny he has struggled the last 2 games. For the remainder of the season I still suspect Varlamov will vastly outplay Smith.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

Avs fan saying Flames. For whatever reason the Avs start off hot against them and then decide that a period or half a period is good enough.

 

[BobColesNasalCavity]

Flames are deeper and just need average goaltending.

 

[cgf]

Ian Cole being our 5 is a critique of our blueliners? Cole has been really solid this year. Nemeth is the guy we play regularly who's just a decent 3rd pairing guy...though unlike plenty of previous colorado blueliners he's a legit 3rd pairing guy and every day NHLer...but everybody else can (at least) fill a top 4 role capably, and Nemeth will be replaced by Makar next season.

So I really don't understand why anyone brings our blueline up anymore; it's rapidly turning into a major strength of ours.

 

[JPeeper]

I take the Flames easily if Mike Smith shows up. If Mike Smith is iffy, it goes game 7 and it's a toss up.

Would be a very entertaining series though.

 

[Connor McConnor]

Edmonton

 

[cgf]

He's given up 11 goals in his last 2 games, so yes he has definitely struggled lately.

2 stinkers don't negate him playing excellently in his other games. Every goalie has games they'd rather forget, especially this year.

 

[Volica]

Edmonton

Not debating who's got more first overalls, and likely to get more here.

 

[BlueDream]

Flames pretty easily. One line teams don't have much playoff success.

 

[Connor McConnor]

Not debating who's got more first overalls, and likely to get more here.

Yet we've been as far/farther than your team the past decade .. hmmm that's weird! Congrats on your first round knockouts to Mr. Getzlaf

 

[newfy]

Avs have brutal depth. Their top line is good but the Flames top line has the ability to play close to their level. After that the rosters arent that close depth wise though. Calgary has a better D, their second line playing guys like Tkachuk vs Backlund vs someone like Jost or Kerfoot is a huge advantage for the flames

 

[Thenameless]

I would actually bet on Calgary. Colorado has really nice high end talent, but Calgary can still roll better lines overall and I think their defense is markedly better.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

Ian Cole being our 5 is a critique of our blueliners? Cole has been really solid this year. Nemeth is the guy we play regularly who's just a decent 3rd pairing guy...though unlike plenty of previous colorado blueliners he's a legit 3rd pairing guy and every day NHLer...but everybody else can (at least) fill a top 4 role capably, and Nemeth will be replaced by Makar next season.

So I really don't understand why anyone brings our blueline up anymore; it's rapidly turning into a major strength of ours.

Honestly Samuel Girard is massively overrated by Avs and non-Avs fans alike.

 

[elitepete]

I'd lean Calgary right now.
That Avs top line is absurd, but the Calgary one isn't that far off. After that though; like, Tkachuk alone swings it to Calgary in terms of depth.
Defence leans towards Calgary, Top 6 v Top 6 isn't particularly close, considering one team employs Ian Cole to play heavy minutes.
Goaltending leans heavily towards the Avs.

So really it's kind:
Top Talent:
Avs > Flames

Depth:
Avs << Flames

Defence:
Avs << Flames

Goaltending:
Avs >> Flames

I also prefer the Flames system over many in the league. Lots of shots generated, and scoring chances generated. Doesn't lean on high SV% and SH% for sustainability.

Colorado also has the edge in special teams and coaching.

 

[elitepete]

Colorado in 5 games.

 

[Snakepit]

Flames. They have better depth and Dmen, and for whatever reason always seem to play the Avs really well

 

[treple13]

Congrats on your first round knockouts to Mr. Getzlaf

Alberta teams this decade are 0-3 against the Ducks in the playoffs and 2-0 against everyone else, and both teams have second round losses to Mr. Getzlaf.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

Colorado in 5 games.

I don't know whether you just hate the Flames or you're a massive homer for the Avs. There is no way one can consider a team that has horrific chance generation metrics has better coaching.

 

[flamesforcup]

Yet we've been as far/farther than your team the past decade .. hmmm that's weird! Congrats on your first round knockouts to Mr. Getzlaf

It was 3-0.

 

[klozge]

Depends on which version of the Avalanche shows up. They can be extremely good but also extremely bad.

 

[cgf]

Honestly Samuel Girard is massively overrated by Avs and non-Avs fans alike.

Did you mean under-rated?

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

Did you mean under-rated?

Underrated? He's a net negative in possession on one of the worst possession teams and has dreadful 5on5 production. He is absolutely overrated. His linemates have better possession without him than with. His eye test also proves he's still very prone to costly mistakes.

 

[Spilot23]

Honestly Samuel Girard is massively overrated by Avs and non-Avs fans alike.

When you watch Girard you're amazed how good he is on the breakout his first pass is just amazing. He never looks nervous as a 20 y/o dman and sometimes looks like he isn't playing like 5''10 guy. If there is a dman that is overrated on the Avs I would say it's EJ or Barrie. EJ isn't looking like his old self, he looks slow and have trouble breaking out his own zone that or clearing the puck IMO. Barrie well everyone know that he can put up points alot of points but will also make alot of mistakes that will lead to goals. At this point you would think that Girard looks more like a veteran than EJ. There is still alot of hockey left this season so I hope things will turn out for EJ.