Consistency Costs Calgary

Alliteration aside, the Western Conference Quarter-Final matchup between Calgary and Chicago was a seriously inconsistent effort by the Flames. Until Game 6, it was all about playing at home. Calgary's Game 6 effort against the 'Hawks was underwhelming at best. Some flashes of brilliance from Bertuzzi and Jokinen were effective, but few and far between. Iginla was mediocre for the second consecutive game and Phaneuf was really missed on the blue line. I predicted Chicago in six games because of the injuries sustained by the Flames towards the end of the season. This very well could have gone differently given that Phaneuf, Regehr and Langkow were healthy.

That being said, the Chicago Blackhawks did an incredible job shutting down Jarome Iginla in Game 6. Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook as well as the Pahlsson/Byfuglien/Burish line played an outstanding game of hockey, and Byfuglien (don't even attempt it) was rewarded with an empty-net goal. Chicago's speed and young talent were too much for the Flames to handle in this Western Conference Quarter-Final Series, and look for them to put up a fight in Round 2 against the Canucks.

NOTE: There is still time for the Sharks to come back as I type this halfway through the 3rd Period, but they won't because they're not prepared to.


San Jose got what was coming to them. The Ducks fought a harder battle and their top line was the difference in this series. Thornton & Marleau showed signs of magic in games 3 and 5, but were inconsistent throughout the series and showed a plain lack of interest in Game 4. Thornton may win a Cup in his career, but he's going to have to play every playoff game as if it's his last. He showed a great amount of effort and heart in Games 5 & 6, but it was too little, too late as the Ducks outworked the Sharks in this first round matchup. It didn't hurt that Hiller was by far the superior goaltender in this series, one in which Nabokov was good, but not great.

...and Getzlaf just scored to make it 4-1. I rest my case.