Tempboy

Predictions, thoughts?


My mind says Tampa, but my heart says Calgary.
Go Flames!

Spartak

Go Khabby and company.

I want to see Andreychuk get his name on the cup!

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WarWagon

Lets go TB. Not a huge fan of either team, but I'll give the nod to the team that took down Philadelphia.

paddyjoe

What a great series this is gonna be.

My heart's with Tampa Bay only because of their coach. 'Torts' was the last coach to bring the Calder Cup to the Rochester Americans during the '95-96' season.


He just added another gold star to his resume with this one too.

maximusveritas

My mind and heart are with Calgary here:
Flames in 6
It'll be a great series.

grumpyolddude

This is the match up I was hoping to see (once the Wings were taken out). This series will be a lot of fun to watch... I hope it goes 7 games. Home ice is not safe and Calgary has a great chance. Can TB's young guns hold up to the pressure? Can either (or both) goalies keep on playing out of their minds? No predictions or emotion investment here, I just want to watch a great series!

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silent_jay

Flames in 6

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Grumman

I bet the tv guys are pissed
head says bolts....but I will root for the flames

CandleInTheDark

Heads have been constantly wrong about the Flames throughout the playoffs. Flames in 6.

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sherpahigh

Yup, can't wait.

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Tempboy

I have a feeling it's going to be a showdown between Kipper and 'Bulin. Whoever blinks first...

HeAtHeN

Yeah Baby!! GO FLAMES GO.

Flames in 7

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Averett

Flames in 6.

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grumpyolddude

Should someone report all of these flame posts to a moderator?

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"Regret can be a harder pill to swallow than failure .With failure you at least know you gave it a chance..." David Howard

00111000

My money is on the Flames, although now knowing the scoring power of the bolts I am a bit scared...Kipper is gonna have to step it up this round.

It's gonna be an exciting finals, both teams play a fast wide open hockey, something that hasnt been done in the finals in a while now.

matteo101

This is awesome. Five years ago could anyone have predicted this? It's awesome for the game IMO. Whoever wins is deserving, and literally I could care less who wins, because I would like to see both teams win. Am I cheering for anyone? Nah, ile let the players decide this one.
In all honestly tho, I knew the flames would be in the cup the second they beat my Canucks. Both Detroit or SanJose couldn't take the series' to seven. And did they have there starting goaly, and star forward?

Tempboy

Haha.. I agree.. who even could have figured at the start of THIS year that Calgary would make it this far.. 7 years removed from the playoffs, Turek injured, McLennan as starter..

And the Bolts.. damn!! Think of how bad they were a few years ago. Haha.. hopefully it signals a changing of the guard.. I'm tired of seeing Dallas, Colorado, Detroit, and New Jersey in the finals.

rockzilla

I think picking against Calgary would lead to me being deported.
They've looked great throughout the playoffs, and have taken out three of the best teams in the West. Tampa had it pretty easy until they met Philly.
After Vancouver, Detroit, and San Jose... Tampa doesn't seem that tough.

canuckguy

I want the flames to win but my head says that tampa's speed will overwhelm calgary's d-men. so tampa in 4 straight.

CaptainGumby

Lightning in 6. Should be a great series....both teams can light the lamp & have a great forechecking defense.

Hopefully the labor situation gets worked out & this wont be the last Stanley Cup finals we see for awhile.

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Fly

so true..............gotta cheer for the canadian team.

....even though it pains me deeply,cuz they knocked out my canucks.

gonna be one hell of a series.

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BASTARD

SterlingStudios

jayman2004

Definately Calgary in 6!!!

paddyjoe

Hmmm, famous last words!

frolichoek

I personally don't think anything could be worse for the game. This will most likely be one of the lowest rated Finals in NHL history. Two of the smallest markets in the league that can't get more than 7 of its games televised next season? It is a good thing the NHL signed the TV deal before this matchup was decided, because it might have been worse once the TV ratings come out.

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Count me in, bra.

maximusveritas

No. Nothing could be worse for the league maybe. But as far as the game of hockey and the fans of hockey, this is about as good as it gets.

Serpent

Tampa had the majority of its games televised this year on SUN, i would assume even more next year.

DDDDave

Lightning in either 5 or 7.

Will absolutely be an awesome series.

Tremendous, compelling stories from both sides of the ice.

Coaches; St.Louis; Iginla; USA; Canada; goaltenders; veterans; rookies; etc.



Not to continue the prior thread hijack but IMHO this may actually help the league. If the 17th and 21st highest payrolls make it to the finals, what does it say about higher player salaries in general? They are not good for the game. Higher priced players don't neccesarily make better teams. I think this gives the owners tremendous leverage in the upcoming CBA talks. What if all the high priced players say we won't play. Owners say OK. 'We'll play with the rest of the guys'. There are too many guys making 750K to 1M that will say 'I'll play for 1M'. 'I don't have to make 7M'. The 'union' (which really isn't) will cave, and we'll all get to watch hockey year. See, all wrapped up in a bow, courtesy of Tampa and Calgary.


frolichoek - by your logic the Rangers/Islanders/Devils should play the Kings every year and that would be good for the game.


IMO, I think lot's of people from around the league will be watching the games. (esp. GM's and owners watching these two teams sell out 20,000 seat arenas at $200./per.) And even your non-hockey fan can get interested by these two particular teams styles of play. (Fast, up-tempo)

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matteo101

What in gods name are you talking about?

It's called opening up the ratings. Instead of closing them off. Did I watch last year, no. Am i going to watch this year hell yea, and the same is true for many many people. Do you think it is fun watching the same teams win year after year?

paddyjoe

Hey DDDDave, you got tickets?

silent_jay

You do know that the Sunshine Network televises Tampa games don't you? The rating on this final will be fine, people love underdogs which is what you have here, even though Tampa finished high in the standings, they were still considered longshots to make it this far. Would a Detroit-Colorado final have been better in your opinion? I'm pretty sure everyone is getting sick of seeing the same 2 teams year after year

I am the same as matteo101 I didn't watch last year because well it was boring and uninteresting, this year hell yeah I'll be watching every game.

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Absence makes the heart grow fonder

Averett

Exactly. I like hockey, I'm by no means a rabid fan of any team. But Calgary has me hooked. I'll be watching these games for sure. I couldn't even tell you who won the Cup last year.

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Absence is to love what wind is to fire. It extinguishes the small, it enkindles the great.

silent_jay

I think Jersey won last year, but don't quote me on that., but yeah I didn't watch any last year except, I think the final game, or the final period.

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Absence makes the heart grow fonder

Tempboy

I have a feeling it's the opposite.. it sends the message that the poorer teams aren't disadvantaged because of high salaries.



Having said that... 3-0 after 2!!
GO FLAMES GOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

KWSN

HOLY SHIT! All 3 goals by the Flames were INCREDIBLE. ESPECIALLY that one by Iginla, GOD DAMN.

If this is any implication, the Lightning have one hell of a struggle ahead of them.

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Your arms are broken!

Serpent

I don't think the goals were incredible, i think khabibulin was sleeping on goals 2 and 3.

Ace_O_Spades

ditto, but that first goal... woo

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Feh.

Averett

Awesome game.

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Absence is to love what wind is to fire. It extinguishes the small, it enkindles the great.

losthellhound

Amazing.. Loved it.. cant wait to see them do it again , and again, and again

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maximusveritas

3 more to go.
GO FLAMES GO!!!

matteo101

Way to go flames. You did it 3 more!!!