Yesterday, I talked with my source. I expressed my concerns about the Flames vs Oilers and how the Oilers had owned the Flames in the past. He said, "I wouldn't be worried; this Flames team is a different kind of beast."
The Flames have had some near-perfect teams. What makes this Flames team much more dangerous than teams from yesteryear?
Top First Line
Maybe one of the best lines in the game. Believe it or not, there is more than just Johnny Gaudreau to this line. Lindholm might be one of the best playmaking centres going right now. The puck-between-the-legs specialist, Tkachuk, is a highly talented goal scorer who plays with the best of them. Yes, the hated Tkachuk, who gets in teams' heads and gets teams off their game.
Vezna Goalie Candidate
Markstrom has been outstanding; he gives the Flames a chance to win every night. What makes Marky so good is his vision; his puck vision is one of the best in the League. Markstrom rarely gets caught out of position.
Supportive Scoring
The Flames have more than just a first line. A few names come to mind... such as Andrew Mangiapane and Tyler Toffoli. Mangiapane has 29 goals, and Toffoli has been fantastic since coming over in a trade with the Habs.
All of that being said; I hate to be a Negative Nelly, but I don't think the Flames are good enough to beat the major contenders. I think they still are two players away from where they need to be. The problem will be finding an imaginative way to circumnavigate the cap to find a solution that works.
Randy
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