I hope to find the time to do each series before the playoff's start, however, Im still overjoyed that the Flames, Nucks and Jets are all clinched, sealed and into the big show. Ill break down, in my opinion, the series to the Canucks vs Flames round one.

Home Ice Advantage?

With home ice still up for grabs, a loss by Vancouver against Edmonton and a win in any fashion by Calgary against Winnipeg in the final game of the season would result in Calgary taking home ice due to what would be a tie in ROW and the Flames holding the season series at 2-1-1 vs the Canucks 2-2. Any win or even OT or Shootout loss by the Canucks would give the Canucks home ice.

Lets evaluate that, both the Canucks and Flames have played phenomenaly well on the road this year, the Flames setting a club record for road wins, and the Canucks near the top of the league for road wins. Both teams have won one game in the other teams building. Seems pretty even. Canucks fans have been Blessed with Playoff hockey alot over the past few seasons, minus last season, so while they will certainly be pumped, the Flames fans havent seen a playoff game in 6 seasons are are likely to blow the lid of the Saddledome. Last nights game against LA was a full playoff atmosphere in Calgary, and it was clear to see the young Flames were feeding off that. Canucks fans meanwhile have been rather quiet this year, however, I expect next week they will be roaring as loud as ever too. The home ice advantage thing, in my opinion won't play particularily in favour of any one team. I call this area a draw.

Keys points for the Flames:

Mark Giordano would not return, not even if the Flames were still playing in June. The Flames have learned to deal with this and have adjusted to playing without there all-star Norris favorite defender.

A huge key loss in my opinion that goes rather uncovered, or not noticed as much, is the injury sustained to goalie Karri Ramo early in the Flames last game against Edmonton. I feel that as the season progressed the Flames were moving towards Karri Ramo as their number 1. The team seemed to play a little more confident with him, and Hartley was using him in most of the key games down the stretch run. However, with his absence Jonas Hiller seems to have elevated his game quite a bit, posting a shut out in Edmonton, playing huge against Arizona, and then playing unworldy against LA to clinch a playoff berth. If he can maintain this level of play the Flames need not worry about goaltending. While Im of the opinion that the Flames will shop Hiller around in the off season with Joni Ortio's development coming along excellant in Adirondack, I think for now, pending Ramo's injury severity, Hiller will be the go to guy, and will be playing with a chip on his shoulder after getting replaced in Anaheim in the first round of last years playoffs.

Continued mobile defense will be key for the Flames. The Flames are not a puck moving team, the majority of their scoring comes from odd man rushes, stretch passes, and quick defensive zone exits. They will absolutely need Brodie, Russel and Wideman to continue to move pucks up ice, find open forwards in the attacking zone, and provide fast and hard defensive zone exits.

Experience. A large portion of the current Flames roster was drafted and developed in house and have yet to experience playoff style hockey. This will be a big unknown for them. Particularly the first line, Gaudrue and Monahan will have to get used to playing even bigger minutes then they already do, and with the added pressure of being able to score clutch goals. Monahan has 8 game winning goals to date on the season, tied for second in the league, will he be able to maintain his clutch abilitys in the pressure of the playoffs? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Contribution from everywhere: The Flames have been blessed with the ability to see goals come from all four lines as well as the defense. This will factor in huge for the Flames, obviously the first line will recieve the most coverage from the top Canuck checking lines and defenders, but Calgary has the ability to put up plenty of key goals from their bottom 6 as well as timely goals from defenders. This should be a big advantage for the Flames.

Coaching: Hartley has won a cup, he's taken a team full of kids and taken them to the playoffs, while WD has done amazing things in Vancover this season he has also shown a few shades of inexperience. Advantage here is in Calgary's favour.

Keys for the Canucks:

Sedins- Aging but far from irrelevant. While their point production is dropping they are still top 20 in the league, and this year individual point production is way down league wide, in my opinion due to the level of Skill in todays game. Goals come from everywhere now, not just a teams first line. The Sedins have always played well against the Flames and are certainly Flame Killers. While they have had lapses in the past during playoff time, I am sure they will bring their A+ game for the Flames. The only factor that will come into play with these two amazing brothers is age/fatigue. If WD starts playing them longer and longer minutes we could see them get tired out, as is the case with all older players. However, no matter what they will be dangerous and more then capable of putting pucks into the Flames net, or setting up someone else too(Vrbata??). Just the site of the Sedins stepping onto the ice makes us Flames fans nervous as they have always controlled play against the Flames. Will they be able to convert that possession game into some big time chances?

Defense- Edler has taken a step back towards being relevant this season after a dismal couple of seasons. He is clearly the #1 defender in the Canucks lineup, his physical presence and huge shot will be key to the Canucks. Hamhuis/Bieksa are very much showing their age this year, Bieksa in particular has played alot of years of rough and tumble hockey and its starting to show. These two will NEED to step up and find a way to keep pace with the young and speedy Flames forwards if the Canucks are to win the series.

Goaltending- Who to go with? With Millers injury Lack has stepped up and proven himself worthy of carrying the team during games when the skaters struggled. Lack is focused and in game mode now, but Miller has got alot of more playing time under his belt. This is a really tough choice WD is going to have to make, start with Lack whose fully conditioned right now and at the top of his game, or go with the veteran who was brought in for the purpose of winning big games. Millers playoff experience is somewhat limited, and did lose last year behind one of the leagues best defense corps, but when he is on his game he can be unbeatable. Advantage....hard to say at this point, I would almost call goaltending even between the two teams.

No Kesler Factor- Kesler was the machine that drove the 2011 cup run, love him or hate him thats a fact. No one on the Canucks roster can fully replace what he brought, yet, give Bo a few seasons. While Kesler won't be there to shut down top lines and score clutch goals, the Canucks have a far better rounded forward group, and are able to get goals from all 4 lines.

Experience - Most of the Canucks 2011 cup run core remains in tact, they know what it takes to win playoff series. The experience advantage is 100% in favour of the Canucks. The only question is does this aging group have it in them to maintain energy levels throughout.

Prediction - a 6 or 7 game series, and all factors considered I'm giving it 50/50 and won't call a clear cut favorite.

From a personal standpoint I am going into this playoff experience the same way I approached the regular season as a Flames fan, I wanna see the team develop. Our team has drafted well and developed well and we are seeing now a glimpse of what we will be rewarded with next season and beyond. Win or lose this playoff series will serve as an excellant development lesson for the future leaders of the Flames. I am just elated that they clawed their way into the playoffs, and am looking forward to a dominating team not far down the line.

As well I am elated at the Canadian content, everyone but Edmonton in the west is in. What a joyous season, AND at least one Canadian team will be playing hockey in the second round, take that Bettman. In my opinion the Jets will be playing second round hockey as well, as I think they will easilly defeat Anaheim or St.Louis.

Ill try to post my personal breakdowns on each series as time permits.