Puck You! The Legend Returns
Monday, May 24, 2004
TAMPA BAY VS CALGARY - SERIES BEGINS AT TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA, AT 5 P.M. PT ON TUESDAY, MAY 25.
This series should be a dandy. Thank goodness the Flyers didn't make it, boy would that have sucked. JR, you aren't winning a Stanley Cup in your lifetime.
My prediction is Tampa Bay in seven. Like Anaheim last season, Calgary will be really close but not close enough. But expect a long exciting series. Tampa Bay has more speed than any of the teams the Flames have faced, and that will play a factor. They will be able to keep up with the speed of Calgary, and their forwards will be tougher to contain for Calgary than any team it has faced thus far. This will be the toughest series for Kipper to win in these playoffs. In the other net, Khabibulin is on a roll after getting peppered by some glorious chances by Philly, while San Jose didn't generate as good of chances on the Flames goaltender. Calgary limited the Sharks to a lower shot count than Tampa Bay did to the Flyers, and that will play a factor.
Not to underestimate Kipper, but I think Khabibulin has the edge right now, although he did let in a couple weak ones against the Flyers. But Calgary won't have the size in front of the net Philly did and I expect less traffic in front of Khabibulin this series. Kipper will win 3 games, but the Bulin Wall will win one more. I expect this win to be the start of what could be a dynasty in Tampa should they hang onto the players they've got right now.
This series should be a dandy. Thank goodness the Flyers didn't make it, boy would that have sucked. JR, you aren't winning a Stanley Cup in your lifetime.
My prediction is Tampa Bay in seven. Like Anaheim last season, Calgary will be really close but not close enough. But expect a long exciting series. Tampa Bay has more speed than any of the teams the Flames have faced, and that will play a factor. They will be able to keep up with the speed of Calgary, and their forwards will be tougher to contain for Calgary than any team it has faced thus far. This will be the toughest series for Kipper to win in these playoffs. In the other net, Khabibulin is on a roll after getting peppered by some glorious chances by Philly, while San Jose didn't generate as good of chances on the Flames goaltender. Calgary limited the Sharks to a lower shot count than Tampa Bay did to the Flyers, and that will play a factor.
Not to underestimate Kipper, but I think Khabibulin has the edge right now, although he did let in a couple weak ones against the Flyers. But Calgary won't have the size in front of the net Philly did and I expect less traffic in front of Khabibulin this series. Kipper will win 3 games, but the Bulin Wall will win one more. I expect this win to be the start of what could be a dynasty in Tampa should they hang onto the players they've got right now.
