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So, we're a day removed from the 6-1 decimation the Calgary Flames faced at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks, and everyone is (presumably) still alive. There are still, at minimum, three games left to be played, although more would be nice.
In trying to extend the series, Bob Hartley has some choices to make, and some players he needs to be healthy.
Karri Ramo expected to start Game 2
When looking at the base situation, it makes sense: Jonas Hiller has been pulled quickly in two straight games now. In Game 6 against the Canucks, he gave up two goals on three shots, and Ramo came in to win the series. In Game 1 against the Ducks, a poor wraparound by Corey Perry he really should have had signified the end of his playing time, as the Flames fell behind 3-0 early in the second.
When looking at it at a glance, it makes total sense to start Ramo. The problem is, this isn't the kind of thing that should be looked at so briefly.
Hiller was not the problem in Game 2.
Neither was Ramo.
It was the entire team. The defence was a trainwreck. All six goals came from within tight. The forwards couldn't score. There probably aren't going to be any 1-0 victories against the Ducks here.
Goaltending was only part of the problem. And both goalies were bad. And historically, over the entire season and over their entire careers, Hiller is the better goalie. So unless something we don't know is going on, it's an odd decision. Ramo has flashes of godlike goaltending, and then moments where he gets the hook... and he got the hook much more often than Hiller over the past season for good reason.
I don't usually cross-post, but I wrote more about the goalie situation earlier for FlamesNation. I was still expecting Hiller to be the starter then, because, well, he's the better goalie.
(Although the last time Hiller was struggling and Ramo replaced him as starter, Ramo got injured in the game's first minute, and then Hiller pitched a shutout the rest of the way... so... Although that was against the Edmonton Oilers, who are very bad, so.)
Micheal Ferland probably good to go, what of Jiri Hudler?
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flames?src=hash">#Flames</a> Hartley: "I expect Micheal Ferland to play"</p>— Randy Sportak (@SUNRandySportak) <a href="https://twitter.com/SUNRandySportak/status/594241882508562432">May 1, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Ferland left Game 1 after just the first period, rattled by some hard hits he threw and missed the mark on:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">GIF here's where Ferkland* got hurt (I know it's Ferland) <a href="http://t.co/TwqtT5TX77">pic.twitter.com/TwqtT5TX77</a></p>— Stephanie Vail (@myregularface) <a href="https://twitter.com/myregularface/status/593977351475752960">May 1, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">GIF: Ferland took a beating in the first, actually <a href="http://t.co/XAaGbeaJMe">pic.twitter.com/XAaGbeaJMe</a></p>— Stephanie Vail (@myregularface) <a href="https://twitter.com/myregularface/status/593978322964631552">May 1, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">GIF: another angle of what appeared to injure Ferland in the first period <a href="http://t.co/N3YiX9N3AK">pic.twitter.com/N3YiX9N3AK</a></p>— Stephanie Vail (@myregularface) <a href="https://twitter.com/myregularface/status/593980668138381312">May 1, 2015</a></blockquote>
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That said, Hartley expects him to be good to go for Game 2, which is good news.
Less good news: there was absolutely no mention of Hudler, other than that he's still considered day-to-day (just as Ferland is).
The possibility of losing Ferland sucks, but potentially having no Hudler is much, much, much worse. Ferland's great as a role player and potential shit disturber. Hudler was the team's leading scorer and near point-per-game player over the regular season, not to mention staple on the top line and mentor to the two kids he plays alongside.
No Hudler could mean the death of the Flames. (And before you bring up Mark Giordano on me: yeah, the Flames survived without him; what do you think are their chances of surviving without both their Norris-caliber defenceman and top scorer against the Ducks in a playoff series?)
Although:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">One good sign. Jiri Hudler looked to be walking without much difficulty. Perhaps not as bad as first thought <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flames?src=hash">#Flames</a></p>— Roger Millions (@RogMillions) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogMillions/status/594236859334680576">May 1, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Fingers crossed!
Johnny Gaudreau is totally fine
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Gaudreau also confirms he has no ill effects after being driven into boards by Nate Thompson . <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flames?src=hash">#Flames</a></p>— Roger Millions (@RogMillions) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogMillions/status/594237262440824832">May 1, 2015</a></blockquote>
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This kid is impossible to hurt.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bob Hartley says Gaudreau was not happy being held out of play in the third period . <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flames?src=hash">#Flames</a></p>— Roger Millions (@RogMillions) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogMillions/status/594239176725368832">May 1, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Hopefully, we'll get to see some Hulk Mode Gaudreau in Game 2. Instead of smashing he'd probably just dangle everyone out of their jocks before setting up teammates for the easiest tap-ins of their lives, but hey, I think we'd all be pretty happy with that happening.
Injured players skating
Lance Bouma and Rafa Diaz took part in an optional skate, as did Giordano. Paul Byron, however, did not, so a return any time soon is probably not happening. It's a shame, considering back in the first round, there were moments where it seemed as though he might be ready to draw back in the lineup, but his injury must have been re-aggravated to the extent of keeping him out.
Byron is an upcoming RFA the team should absolutely re-sign, but his being injured at the end of the year and into the post-season is extremely unhelpful. The team would almost certainly be better with him on the ice.
As for everyone else skating:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">On ice: Ramo, Ortio, Giordano, Diaz, Wotherspoon, Potter, Ramage, Wolf, Bouma, Raymond, Shore & Granlund.</p>— Randy Sportak (@SUNRandySportak) <a href="https://twitter.com/SUNRandySportak/status/594243710088450048">May 1, 2015</a></blockquote>
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No Hiller, but most of the healthy veterans are out, anyway.
Mikael Backlund is the best
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Backlund, with this beauty: "If we win on Sunday we’re in a really good spot. I’m not guaranteeing anything here. Just saying." <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flames?src=hash">#Flames</a></p>— Aaron Vickers (@AAVickers) <a href="https://twitter.com/AAVickers/status/594246482565275649">May 1, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Make the man an alternate captain already.