The buzz surrounds the 2011 Heritage Classic, whose return to Canada this winter has NHL fans eager to take part. Tickets went on sale last Friday for the upcoming outdoor event, set for February 20 at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium.
The Montreal Canadiens will face the Calgary Flames in the first game played in Canada since the Heritage Classic’s debut back in 2003. More than thirty thousand fans are expected to turn up for the highly anticipated event.
NHL Commissioner, Gary Bettman, said in an August press conference, Read More
Tag: Calgary Flames
Canucks’ round 2 opponent still up in the air
Having been the first team to complete a sweep of their series in the first round of the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs, accompanied by Boston and Detroit, the Vancouver Canucks have been rewarded with a lengthy break between rounds, as well as a mystery round 2 opponent. Having ended the series with the St. Louis Blues in just four games — a feat the Canucks have never accomplished as a franchise before — the Canucks are placed in a position that could be debated as working for or against them: does the break between rounds allow the Canucks to rest up and prepare for round 2, or does it destroy their momentum and remove them from the rhythm of the game?
However, the bigger question on most people’s minds is which team the Canucks are even preparing for. The answer to that question lies in the results of two series that are still underway: the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks, and the Chicago Black Hawks and Calgary Flames. Because of the makeup of the playoff tree, points from the regular season still count towards the second round of the playoffs. This means that since Detroit, the second seed in the West, has won its series, it will face either Vancouver or Anaheim because of their respective places in the Western Conference.
Because Anaheim is currently leading the series with top seeded San Jose, Vancouver fans are hoping for them to continue their success, leaving them to play Detroit at the start of round 2, and allowing Vancouver to face the winner of the Calgary/Chicago series. Although the placing of teams in the standings does not always reflect the would-be success of either team (one need only look at San Jose’s performance against the eigth placed Anaheim Ducks), theorhetically it would be more favorable to the Canucks to be playing either the Flames or Black Hawks. However, at this point all the Canucks can do is prepare for their next round and wait for the outcome of these last few round 1 games.
Canucks' round 2 opponent still up in the air
Having been the first team to complete a sweep of their series in the first round of the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs, accompanied by Boston and Detroit, the Vancouver Canucks have been rewarded with a lengthy break between rounds, as well as a mystery round 2 opponent. Having ended the series with the St. Louis Blues in just four games — a feat the Canucks have never accomplished as a franchise before — the Canucks are placed in a position that could be debated as working for or against them: does the break between rounds allow the Canucks to rest up and prepare for round 2, or does it destroy their momentum and remove them from the rhythm of the game?
However, the bigger question on most people’s minds is which team the Canucks are even preparing for. The answer to that question lies in the results of two series that are still underway: the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks, and the Chicago Black Hawks and Calgary Flames. Because of the makeup of the playoff tree, points from the regular season still count towards the second round of the playoffs. This means that since Detroit, the second seed in the West, has won its series, it will face either Vancouver or Anaheim because of their respective places in the Western Conference.
Because Anaheim is currently leading the series with top seeded San Jose, Vancouver fans are hoping for them to continue their success, leaving them to play Detroit at the start of round 2, and allowing Vancouver to face the winner of the Calgary/Chicago series. Although the placing of teams in the standings does not always reflect the would-be success of either team (one need only look at San Jose’s performance against the eigth placed Anaheim Ducks), theorhetically it would be more favorable to the Canucks to be playing either the Flames or Black Hawks. However, at this point all the Canucks can do is prepare for their next round and wait for the outcome of these last few round 1 games.
Flames re-ignite their playoff hopes
The Calgary Flames opened their 2009 first-round playoff series with the Chicago Blackhawks rather poorly, failing to impress in the first two games, leading to a 2-0 series deficit. Their lack of aggressive play and the inability to harness their veteran supremacy over the young Chicago team quickly dampened the Flames’ fire, a situation they hoped would reverse when they returned to home-ice in games three and four.
The Flames did just that, pleasing their fans in the Pengrowth Saddledome with a 4-2 win over the Blackhawks, cutting their series lead to 2-1, and reinvigorating the downtrodden Calgary team. All it took was the “C” of Red’s display of support, and the understanding that the team has to play more physical in order to win the puck, and eventually the game. Their drive for the puck is reflected in the physicality of their game, having made 30 hits in game 4 (two times as many as Chicago) and giving up only four penalties, the Flames proved to be a hard-hitting and disciplined veteran team.
Although they gave up three unanswered goals in the second period after going ahead 4-1, the Flames rallied their efforts and took back the lead halfway through the third off a goal from Eric Nystrom, and an empty-netter by Jarome Iginla with 11 seconds left in the game. This win brings with it a lot of momentum for the Flames as they head back to the “Windy City” for game 5 in the hopes to steal the series lead.
Game 5 will be played on Saturday at 7:00 PM PST.
Fans with class need only apply in games on Monday
It’s true that teams strive to attain hometown advantage in order to gain the upperhand in a tough series, and last night’s two games involving the Montreal Canadiens and the Calgary Flames were perfect examples of a team who needed to hear from their fans to turn the momentum of the 2-0 series deficit they both faced. Despite the obvious presence of supporters in both the Bell Centre in Montreal and the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, only the latter benefitted from the noise, perhaps partly due to their demeanor.
The Calgary Flames were able to fight off the Chicago Blackhawks for the first time in the series, cutting the lead to 2-1, when Rene Borque scored an ugly goal to put them ahead by one late in the second — a lead the Flames would not let go of. And of course, the “C” of Red was in full force that night, cheering on their boys in Cowtown to propel the team to the win. Unfortunately, for the other Canadian team on the ice that night, things didn’t turn out so well, especially without thanks to the fans.
In the Bell Centre, the night opened with a roar of “boos” in an unlikely and disrespectful place: the American National Anthem. Believing they were supporting their team — and that the anthem represented the opposing Boston Bruins — the fans in Montreal made their voices heard much to the chagrin of home team GM Bob Gainey.
“I feel like there’s a confusion there with our fans,” says Gainey. “They feel like booing the anthem is supporting our team, in that the anthem represents the Boston team. And I think if they could separate those two things, then we could respect the anthem of the United States of America and they could still participate loudly in whatever way they want to disrupt the Bruins.”
The show of “support” from the fans seemed to have been counter-intuitive to the Habs’ efforts; the Boston Bruins delivered a 4-2 loss to the Canadiens’, possibly inspired by the anthem-antics that began the night. Although Montreal has one more chance to begin making up lost ground in their current 3-0 series deficit, they will definitely need their fans to rally behind a cheer that will actually motivate their struggling team. As for the Flames, their fans seem to have already found that secret to success.
Both teams hit the ice once again in game 4 on Wednesday.
Infamous crowds to play large role in a pair of Game 3’s
Two Canadian teams. Two different series. Two well-known, hockey-crazed crowds. With their teams on the verge of falling into that uncomfortable spot between a rock and a hard place, the fans in Montreal and Calgary know exactly what their role will be in each team’s Game 3 tonight: the all-important “sixth man.”
There is no doubt that the Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames each have a diehard following — the Canadiens, being of the original six, have a long history in the sport and have generations of fans to support them. The Flames, while being a younger team than the Habs, have become known for their fan support and the infamous “C” of Red, the name given to the awe-inspiring sight of the entire Pengrowth Saddledome filled with fans clad in red. Both teams are currently stuck in a 2-0 deficit in their respective series, with little to be happy about in their struggling performances. However, coming back home may carry the momentum of the series in their favor thanks to the noise and support of their fans.
“This building is loud, and it can definitely shift the momentum,” says Calgary forward, David Moss. “This city is waiting for a win. Hopefully, by doing that tonight, we can kind of spark this thing, get everyone behind us, and start rolling.”
While not known for it’s visually stunning fan support, the Canadiens are home to a large stadium that never ceases to sell-out, the stands brimming with Habs fans dressed in their red, white and blue. The noise generated from the crowd following each big hit, poor call, or highlight-reel goal can be intimidating for the opposition, and tonight in both the Bell Center and the Penngrowth Saddledome, it will be the “sixth man” watching the game that will make or break these two Canadian teams’ chances of righting their wrongs from the first two games.