The stage for the Battle of Alberta has been set..Last night, a heroic overtime goal by Johhny Gaudreau in Game 7 lifted the Calgary Flames past the Dallas Stars to secure a spot in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs versus the Edmonton Oilers..The Battle of Alberta will begin on Wednesday night, and I think the Oilers had better get ready for the red-hot Flames and their early summer on the golf course. .For the first time since 1991, we will see two Albertan teams duke it out in a post-season edition of the Battle of Alberta, and I, for one, welcome it..Although I believe it will be a short series. I predict a Flames series win in five games. I know this prediction will ruffle the feathers of Oilers fans, and that's what its meant for. An already divided Alberta is about to become a little more divided. The Flames and Oiler flag sales at Canadian Tire can confirm this, I am sure..I just don't think the Oilers can hold off the Flames, mainly because I believe Jacob Markstrom is simply better between the pipes than Mike Smith..A flame burns oil and a goalie stops shots and there is no way Smith is stopping 60 shots per game, on average, like Dallas Stars goaltender Jakob Oettinger. The Flames peppered the Otter with shots during the first round. .In Game 7, Oettinger made 64 saves, including 24 in the second period, four during an overtime power play, and game-saving saves against Calgary’s fourth line in OT. .Oettinger couldn’t have played any better against the Flames. His .954 save percentage was second in NHL history for a series behind former Star Tim Thomas’ .967 save percentage in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final. The Otter is now second in NHL history for most saves in a Game 7..I think Smith will crack under the pressure and doesn't have the agility that the 23-year-old Otter had in his first playoff series. Oilers fans will argue that Smith posted two shutouts during the first round versus the Kings. Yeah, and he only faced roughly 30 shots per game. Cue angry Oilers fans' comments..Smith's playoff record, however, is not as impressive as his two shutouts versus the Kings. With only 36 career playoff games under his belt, Smith has only recorded 15 playoff game wins. We won't get into the numbers, I know he only allowed 16 goals in seven playoff appearances this year, but I just feel that the 40-year-old goaltender just doesn't have enough oil in the tank to defend the Flames..In his first year in Arizona, Smith did however end up winning the division with the Coyotes and would then go on a run where he played some of the best hockey of his career. Smith went to the Western Conference Final that year. .When a goaltender starts dominating, it does nothing but give the entire team a lift and an optimistic outlook. During that run, Smith posted a couple of impressive shutouts to keep the team alive, but again he faced less than 40 shots for those shutout wins. Those were known as the Smith glory days, again cue angry Oilers fans' comments. .The Flames have firepower and were the best team in Alberta through 82 games in the regular season. My prediction: Smith can't handle the Flames firepower. The Flames will be victorious in the second round versus the Oilers in five games. So keep your head up Zack Kassian, and get ready for the sea of red at the Saddledome because Johnny and the b'ys are bringing the cup back to Alberta..It's time to burn the Albertan oil, Go Flames GO!
The stage for the Battle of Alberta has been set..Last night, a heroic overtime goal by Johhny Gaudreau in Game 7 lifted the Calgary Flames past the Dallas Stars to secure a spot in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs versus the Edmonton Oilers..The Battle of Alberta will begin on Wednesday night, and I think the Oilers had better get ready for the red-hot Flames and their early summer on the golf course. .For the first time since 1991, we will see two Albertan teams duke it out in a post-season edition of the Battle of Alberta, and I, for one, welcome it..Although I believe it will be a short series. I predict a Flames series win in five games. I know this prediction will ruffle the feathers of Oilers fans, and that's what its meant for. An already divided Alberta is about to become a little more divided. The Flames and Oiler flag sales at Canadian Tire can confirm this, I am sure..I just don't think the Oilers can hold off the Flames, mainly because I believe Jacob Markstrom is simply better between the pipes than Mike Smith..A flame burns oil and a goalie stops shots and there is no way Smith is stopping 60 shots per game, on average, like Dallas Stars goaltender Jakob Oettinger. The Flames peppered the Otter with shots during the first round. .In Game 7, Oettinger made 64 saves, including 24 in the second period, four during an overtime power play, and game-saving saves against Calgary’s fourth line in OT. .Oettinger couldn’t have played any better against the Flames. His .954 save percentage was second in NHL history for a series behind former Star Tim Thomas’ .967 save percentage in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final. The Otter is now second in NHL history for most saves in a Game 7..I think Smith will crack under the pressure and doesn't have the agility that the 23-year-old Otter had in his first playoff series. Oilers fans will argue that Smith posted two shutouts during the first round versus the Kings. Yeah, and he only faced roughly 30 shots per game. Cue angry Oilers fans' comments..Smith's playoff record, however, is not as impressive as his two shutouts versus the Kings. With only 36 career playoff games under his belt, Smith has only recorded 15 playoff game wins. We won't get into the numbers, I know he only allowed 16 goals in seven playoff appearances this year, but I just feel that the 40-year-old goaltender just doesn't have enough oil in the tank to defend the Flames..In his first year in Arizona, Smith did however end up winning the division with the Coyotes and would then go on a run where he played some of the best hockey of his career. Smith went to the Western Conference Final that year. .When a goaltender starts dominating, it does nothing but give the entire team a lift and an optimistic outlook. During that run, Smith posted a couple of impressive shutouts to keep the team alive, but again he faced less than 40 shots for those shutout wins. Those were known as the Smith glory days, again cue angry Oilers fans' comments. .The Flames have firepower and were the best team in Alberta through 82 games in the regular season. My prediction: Smith can't handle the Flames firepower. The Flames will be victorious in the second round versus the Oilers in five games. So keep your head up Zack Kassian, and get ready for the sea of red at the Saddledome because Johnny and the b'ys are bringing the cup back to Alberta..It's time to burn the Albertan oil, Go Flames GO!
