Life Is A Rollercoaster - Flames @ Canucks Game 2 Preview

Calgary Flames @ Vancouver Canucks - 8PM MT

CBC (TV), OMNI (Punjabi TV), Sportsnet 960 The FAN (Radio)

I'll admit, I was thinking that for the majority of game one (recap/stats/analysis) I'd be writing this saying that it was only game one, and that the Flames were still in this series, but then this happened:

GIF: Jones ties the game for Calgary pic.twitter.com/boX3vmql0q

— Stephanie Vail (@myregularface) April 16, 2015

And then this happened:

another look at Russell’s winner pic.twitter.com/HZquCDg7Hv

— Stephanie Vail (@myregularface) April 16, 2015

All of a sudden, the Flames had gone from one game down to one game up, and I went from this:

Flames chances are straight at Lack. Hiller performing miracles at the other end.

— The Bloke Who Writes (@LiamPMcCausland) April 16, 2015

To this:

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

— The Bloke Who Writes (@LiamPMcCausland) April 16, 2015

I think the game perfectly summed up the Flames this season. Frustrating at times, sometimes impotent on the offence, but when it comes together, and it goes well, it is glorious. Now to do it again.

Hey, what about that first period performance from Sam Bennett, Mikael Backlund and Joe Colborne? That was good. More of that. That was Bennett's second NHL game. Imagine how good he's going to be when he has some more games under his belt?

Michael Ferland deserves a lot of credit for his best game yet, too, despite being drawn into a daft penalty by Derek Dorsett. He learnt from that, and spent the rest of the game atoning for it. Ferland, Matt Stajan and David Jones worked really well together. The Flames need to build on these positives going into game two.

That said, the Canucks had a lot of good chances, and the Flames were very reliant on Jonas Hiller once again. The Sedins seemed to have the freedom of the city at times, and that needs addressing. Although, I thought Deryk Engelland was excellent and TJ Brodie looked like he was playing alongside Mark Giordano again.

Kevin Bieksa will be a game time decision for Willie Desjardins, although he is expected to play. The Flames are due to play the same lineup that won game one.

While we'd all appreciate an easier game, and one where we could all relax, that would not be the 2014-15 Flames, would it?

Playoff Leaders

Potential Starting Lineups (subject to change)

Make sure you join us in the gamethread to discuss game two, and we can go through all the emotions that the Flames put us through together.