Quote Originally Posted by Lippsman:
I like the Habs wager, but what about that Flames side ? What do you see that they may pull off the big upset ? Pitt has just owned Calgary. Calgary just can't keep the puck out of their net, allowing at least 3 goals in their L4 games, losing the last 3 and they on a B2B.
As you may or may not be aware, I cashed in betting against these Flames with the Sabres last night and in doing so stated I felt they are ready to come back down to earth a bit. With that said I feel this is a good spot for them to grab a win against a limping Pens team that is ripe for the picking. The Pens are a very mediocre 3-3 in their last 6 games against the likes of the Canucks, Rangers, Devils, Senators and the lowly Hurricanes twice, not exactly murderers row. They are 2-2 in their last 4 home games being held to an embarrassing total of 6 goals total in those 4 games. They have not scored more than 3 goals in regulation time in quite a long time, I looked back 10 games and stopped looking there as that told me enough, so I don't even know just how long it has been, so they are not scaring anyone with their offence.
On the head to head topic as you are well aware they only meet once a year so those previous outcomes are pretty much completely irrelevant to the players on these rosters especially the these young Flames. But since we're on it, in the last 2 meetings yes the Pens have won but they have been very tight one goal games, ending in 2-1 and 4-3 Pens wins so the games were up for grabs and that was against much weaker Flames teams.
As for the Flames giving up at least 3 goals in their last 4 games, just 2 nights ago they gave up just 2 goals against a red hot, very offensively grooving Leafs team before the Leafs scored 2 late goals into an empty net so I do not count 2 empty netters against a teams defensive play, just the 2 REAL goals if you will. Jonas Hiller played in net that night and he was fantastic in that game stopping 25 of 27 shots and he will be in net tonight and I look for another strong game from him. He has faced the Leafs, Ducks, Hawks and Ducks again in his last 4 starts and allowed 12 goals and battled very well in all 4 starts against extremely high end offensive competition in that stretch. I think he can handle the current Penguins offence.
The Flames outshot the Sabres 43-18 last night so there was no quit in them and you will not see any tonight either. As for the back to back they are a very young team and they are a beautiful 5-0 on zero days rest so they seem to thrive in this position.
Crosby missed practice Thursday with an unknown illness so who knows how he will be tonight if he even plays and Letang and Hornqvist are both game time decisions who I expect to be a little sluggish if they both do play anyway. Lots of questions for a Pens team who will be forced to roll all four lines tonight as they have to head out of town immediately following the game. They have a big game on deck tomorrow night in a rematch from last years playoffs with a suddenly red hot Columbus team just licking their chops to payback the team that ended their season last year, and the Pens know it and will almost certainly play it safe with their banged up players tonight to have them ready to go for saturdays tilt on the road.
The Flames are a GOOD hockey team now and they are for real. GOOD hockey teams don't easily lose more than 3 games in a row very often if ever in a season, just a magic number for that, the fourth one to give them is a very tough one always, as with each loss a good character team digs down deeper and deeper.
With the outrageous price tag i'm getting paid here and all those things I found and perceive to be true above, there was no way in hell I could not make these gritty, young, skilled, Flames and their soon to be coach of the year a play tonight.
Gave you a lot to read there, hope that properly conveys my thoughts.
The lion and the tiger may be more powerful, but the wolf doesn't perform in the circus.