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Abel to Yzerman

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Way West Deep Digging

by IwoCPO on 04/10/07 at 10:02 PM ET
Comments (3)

Here’s a preview of some of the stories you’ll see out of Canada tomorrow, as well as an ESPN ditty that tries to portray the Flames as underdogs...which, of course, the rest of the hockey world knows is just crazy talk.

Darryl Sutter may not be behind the Calgary bench anymore (much to the chagrin of a few Flame bloggers), but he’s still providing that warm and fuzzy motivation.

“Both Dion and his partner haven’t played exceptionally well since the first of the year when you look at it,” said Sutter. “You’ve got to hope the experience (of the ’06 playoffs) helps Dion. The experience doesn’t help Hammer, he’s got lots of it.

“Hammer is a guy who’s been around a while but doesn’t have much playoff experience and Dion’s a second-year guy who doesn’t have much playoff experience. This is where they’re going to be measured.”

For more on Phaneuf and his “partner”, check out Gloveside.

Jim Playfair is under a big, red microscope in Calgary.  Not the most popular fella, as pointed out above...and feeling the heat.

When Sutter gave up coaching to concentrate on his general manager duties with the Flames, it was assumed Playfair would be the anti-Darryl; the kinder, gentler coach who willingly handled the media chores and was liked by all.

But early on, captain Jarome Iginla dropped a word of caution when asked to compare the new boss with the old boss: “They’re a lot more alike than you think.”

And, finally, the Calgary Herald’s George Johnson, in a special to ESPN says the Flames are the underdogs, the “disrespected”, the little team that possibly could.  Frigging spare me.  Read on if you must.

In Hockeytown, fans are convinced the Red Wings are more than ready to repel this Flames challenge. Players are getting healthy at the right time and the team is bulked up for the run by Dominik Hasek in goal and Todd Bertuzzi to add size and muscle.

Five games, maybe six, at the outside.

“Oh, we’re the underdogs all right,” Calgary center Craig Conroy said. “But we like it that way.”

Five games?  Hockeytown’s predicting five games?  Please.  Hockeytown’s predicting antacids, if anything.  Nice research, George.

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Comments

The Canadian media tends to be on crack most of the time when they discuss their hockey, so why should that article surprise anyone?

Posted by Yzerman19 from Nashville on 04/11/07 at 05:29 AM ET

I like the fact that Calgary is Don Cherry’s favorite in the playoffs.  I hope the Wings trounce them.

IWO, the boss has some really good reminders in his latest NHL blog:
http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NHLPage&id=2850

Posted by w2j2 on 04/11/07 at 05:48 AM ET

So, Calgary is the underdog and thus not expected to win. Meanwhile, everyone expects Detroit to choke and be out in the first round. So, who, exactly, is expected to win this series?

Posted by Megan Hirdes from Grand Rapids, Mi on 04/11/07 at 06:33 AM ET

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