chaos Posted May 9, 2014 Report Share Posted May 9, 2014 Calgary Flames in the Blitz B Finals May 8, 2014 Calgary, Alberta There have been a number of firsts for Calgary this season. - First season with a winning record (24-16) - First in PK % (80%) - First in Goalie Save % (Ron Hextall - .760%) - First Blitz playoff series win (4-3 vs DET) And their first trip to the Blitz B finals. Team veterans Mats Sundin (8 seasons) and Ray Bourque (3 seasons) have waited a long time for this. The last time Calgary made the playoffs, in Season 3, they were ousted by Zalex's Chicago Blackhawks in a tough 6 game series. The 5-4 OT loss in Game 6 at home left a bad taste in their mouth. Mats Sundin's 16 goals in that series just weren't enough to push them into the second round. Quick playoff exits in Season 1 and 2 made it even worse. Something had to change. Mats and Ray needed some help. It took another 5 seasons before they would figure it out. They didn't have to do it all. They just needed the right pieces around them. Calgary brought in Joe Sakic, Dimitri Khristich, and Ulf Samuelsson, with another CGY veteran Ron Hextall. The team just clicked. Games that normally became 1 goal losses became 1 goal wins. And the wins just kept stacking up. Sure, Mats didn't have his best statistical season, but he didn't have to. Ray became a bigger offensive force, and with the help of Ulf became a great defensive pair allowing Ron Hextall to concentrate on the puck and not the play. Joe Sakic helped with the goal scoring, with Dimitri dishing the puck out with a team-high 39 assists. Taking the #3 seed was easy. The playoffs were the test. A tough 7 game series in the first round saw their patience tested, but not broken. Smart plays led to Power Plays, which led to goals. The mental toughness paid off in winning 2 OT games. Down 3-2 in the series, they outlasted DET 7 min in the second OT game to take Game 6. Going 3/3 on the PP in Game 7's 5-1 win was a difference maker. A second round matchup against SJ wasn't supposed to be easy, and it wasn't. Tough defensive play by both teams kept the games close, with 5 of the 6 games decided by 1 goal, 4 in OT. They came back in Games 1, 2, and 6 to win, down 2-0, 3-1, and 3-2, all in the 3rd period to win. With the series clinching win, CGY improved their playoff OT record to 5-1 this season. Mats Sundin took over, with 3 game-tying goals and 3 game-winning goals. There's one last first Calgary wants this season. - The Blitz B Cup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingraph Posted May 9, 2014 Report Share Posted May 9, 2014 Great write up! Inspirational....good luck in the finals! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LA Robbie Posted May 9, 2014 Report Share Posted May 9, 2014 Big congrats. Have to admit I didn't expect it. You've had a fantastic season. Nice team. Already lookin forward to 09! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freydey Posted May 9, 2014 Report Share Posted May 9, 2014 Yeee good luck and congrats fitzo for your 1st elimination ever! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRoBob38 Posted May 9, 2014 Report Share Posted May 9, 2014 very impressive. after i played fitzo, i felt as though i lost to a championship-caliber opponent. great seasons by both, congrats to chaos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaos Posted May 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2014 Thanks guys! Trust me, it was not easy. LA Robbie and Fitzo are both awesome players. Both series could have went both ways. Close games, each series had a 6+ min OT game. Actually, I think I was outscored in both series Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hokkeefan Posted May 11, 2014 Report Share Posted May 11, 2014 Congrats Chaos,nice to see one of the good guys make it to the finals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcicon5148 Posted May 12, 2014 Report Share Posted May 12, 2014 I don't have the great write up that chaos did but Calgary will meet LA in the B finals.VGGs with minpind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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