VeeshanVault

The Tampa Bay Lightning vs the Calgary Flames.

This is the farthest that Tampa's franchise has ever made it. This the first time Calgary has been this far since they won their only championship in 1989. Both teams are very strong skating teams. Tampa is a lot more finesse and puck control. Calgary is a more physical "dump and grind". IMO the key will be the powerplay. Tampa's power play has been nothing short of amazing in the playoffs, while Calgary's non-existent powerplay is totally eclipsed by their stellar penalty killing. In the end I think Tampa is the more talented club, and although Kipprusoff will put in a Conn Smythe performance, the Lightning will beat the Flames in 6 games.

I'm still hoping for the upset though

Gooooooooo Lightning!

I agree that the powerplay will be the main factor into winning the playoffs. Although the Lightning are more talented, I do think that the Flames have worked much harder.

End result, Flames in 6 with 2 OT games along the way.

I actually think Tampa will win this one with their 5 on 5 play. Of course PP's will make a difference, but the key will be the stellar play (or lack there of) from those first 2 lines.

I see Tampa in 6 games. Now if it were SJ and Tampa , I think it would have been a 7 game series

Finally a Stanley Cup I can watch. Hope this marks the end of faggot trapping = championships.

Tampa in a sweep!

I want the Flames to win but alas Tampa where my money is going.

Raistin wrote:Tampa in a sweep!

*cough*

The Flames played like it was game 7. The hitting was unbelievable. They did everything right.

I didn't watch the game, and after hearing the score I'm glad I didn't. Something just told me that the first game wasn't going to be worth a watch. Personally I think Tampa is still worn from the Philly series. That was a tough series for them. Calgary has had plenty of rest time and time to study the Lightning. It's going to be a tough SC Finals series, but I'm hoping for Tampa.. if not because they're the home team, then at least for Capn' Andy.

I want that Canadian team to win so my friends from Canada can stop whining...and have the silly chalice for a year...

Interesting facts about the Flames and the Lightning.

Kiprusoff has a record of 5-0 and a GAA of 0.98 after letting in 4+ goals the previous game during the playoffs.

Khabibulin has a record of 5-0 with a GAA of 1.00 after losing the previous game during the playoffs.

Some people may call it good hockey, but the way the Flames are currently playing is bullshit. They're not trying to simply rough up the opposing team, they're trying to hurt them beyond the norm. It's not that they're even playing hockey as much as they're trying to prevent the Lightning from playing hockey. It's like the team that knows they can't win in a fair fight, so they're cheating. And the biased refs are getting really friggin' old as well. Almost as much as the inconsistent calls of the different games/refs.

If you're refering to the hit Niemenem gave to Lecavalier, then I'll agree there, but, that is the only incident this series so far. I wouldn't say that the Flames are trying to hurt them beyond the norm, they are just checking hard trying to wear them out.

But ya, Niemenem is an ass for what he did and should get a few games suspended.

Also, not sure which game you were watching last night but the refs weren't biased at all, they made a few bad calls that cost the Flames a goal, but thats it. The Flames fans at the arena were just bitter yesterday.

The Lightning did not deserve to win last night. Looks like Calgary is going home with the cup. I doubt it will happen at home, but more likely here in Tampa for game 7. The Lightning apparently can't win 2 in a row, and the only way for them to pull this off now is to do so for the next two games.

At least last night was more of a game of hockey instead of men dry humping each other all night.

Game 7 tonight! I love this game!

Lynks wrote:I love this game!

Get a new tag line! That's the NBA!

Figures game 7, the game for the cup, is on a day I'm out of town.. Ugh. Dammit, the Lightning better win tonight.

Not counting on it, but dammit they bettah!

Didn't watch game 6 but.. how the HELL can they not call that a goal?

I watched it and well, the play went by so fast, nobody knew it was a goal. Hell, it wasn't even until 10 minutes later that they announced that it was a goal by zooming in on the footage (and of course, its too late by then to do anything).

Ohh well though, those are the breaks.

Optical illusion!

When you have the technical equipment to review it, do so!

gratz to tampa, well played game 7

The cup just seems so... out of place in Florida...

Is there even a player in the league that from south of the mason-dixon line?

Grats Lightning and their fans. My concern as a long time hockey fan is that I just hope the residents appreciate what they have there, in that skilled young team and support them.

I thought it was a pretty entertaining series. Had great skating, great goaltending, a lot of physical play (which I love as both a player and a fan)and 2 teams that just wouldn't quit. A lot of players gave outstanding performances: Richards all the way through, ditto for St Louis and Lecavalier, you have to love Fedotenko who goes from a nasty head shot in game 4 to potting 2 goals in game 7, and what else needs to be said about the 'Bulin Wall? The Flames had a great run on the backs of Iginla, Regehr, Conroy, Gelinas and the Kipper.

A lot of people have criticized the officiating, and as someone who lives in and was pulling for Calgary (after my beloved Islanders were sent golfing in round 1... wonder if we can punt Milbury and hire Burke...), think it wasn't really one sided as much as silly and inconsistent. IMO it was the thing that detracted from the series. They called some stupid things: the tripping call that led to Tampa's 1st goal in Game 7 was weak. The interference call on Pratt was as well, and I'm not going to comment on the clusterfuck of the last minute.

Tampa deserved this: they played hard and they kept it going all the way through. Their strategy and execution on the powerplay was the better and IMO the decisive factor in the series. People talk about the "non-goal" and I agree with what Darryl Sutter said: it was one camera angle, that you couldn't tell if the puck was in the air or not... and it has to be ALL the way across the line, thus it was non-conclusive. If the puck was in the air, it may not have been across, thus was not a goal, but we'll never know.

Heheheh just don't brag too loud in front of the Leaf fans out there: they may get a little homicidal

Wulf, a lot more people now are getting into the 'hockey fever' obviously with the winning team we now have.. the main problem, is that those that are getting interested may lose the chance to become hockey addicts with the coming work stoppage. Right now they're interested.. if they can't see another game for another year.. or two as some are predicting, it'll be lost. Not to mention that, if I remember correctly, the Lightning have 22 players whos contracts are up. With no season or a work stoppage, there's no contract renewing possible. Whether they stick around is even more questionable with the World Hockey Association starting back up to challenge the NHL.. which will be happening right around the time that the NHL is stopped for negotiations.