CALGARY – Will it be Johnny Gaudreau’s final game against the Calgary Flames or a dramatic exorcism of demons of the past?
The beginning of the end for the team’s talented core, or a springboard into the province’s most anticipated playoff match in over three decades?
The Edmonton Oilers played their part on Saturday. We’ll find out tonight whether the Flames can hold the serve.
Game 7 against a surprise game by the Dallas Stars squad will be fought between hope and terror on a knife’s edge in the Saddledome.
With everything at stake, it’s clear which team will be weighed down by the extra pressure.
There is so much at stake and the narrative changes dramatically with both results against a stingy Dallas team playing house money.
A Flames win would end seven years without a Round 2 appearance and put Calgary straight into their first Battle of Alberta in 31 years.
And while history doesn’t side with the Flames, remember that the final Game 7 scare this team overcame at home kickstarted the franchise’s only Stanley Cup run 33 years ago.
They, too, had the star power, goalies, coaching and depth that has propelled this club to the Pacific Division title as NHL’s Hottest Club in recent months.
Unfortunately, they stand on the precipice of disaster after failing to wrap up the series in Dallas on Friday.
The staunch underdog survived by giving the Flames a taste of the medicine Sutter’s side dished out in 2004 when they used a smothering defense and a hot goalie to create a shocking run into the Finals.
That run produced the C of Red, who will descend in rousing fashion in and around the Dome on Sunday night, pushing their team to climb the hump that has dogged this group for years.
You know the background: since winning the cup in 1989, this club has only made it through to the second round twice.
Just as Leafs fans thought before Saturday’s heartbreaking loss to Tampa, it’s certainly time to push the franchise forward.
Given the expectations, it’s unrealistic for Flames players to enjoy the moment.
But they have to accept it.
Three 40-goal men, a Vezina Trophy finalist and the apparent Coach of the Year against a stifling defense and a 23-year-old goalie threatening to derail a season of excitement and expectation.
As one-sided as it seemed on paper, Darryl Sutter was right when he said Saturday, “This series deserves a Game 7. The score is 12-12.”
Full marks for Rick Bowness and his Stars, because they are in no way inferior to the Flames in this duel.
Two years after eliminating the Flames in the Bubble and reaching the cup final, it’s an experienced group who know what counts.
Conversely, the Flames have nine players in the lineup who have never won a series.
What is needed now is a hero, young or old.
“It’s time for guys who haven’t been to Game 7 to step up,” said Sutter, whose team has half as many players as the 18 Stars skaters with Game 7 experience.
“If there are people on this show who haven’t been as productive as they would like, that’s an opportunity to be a hero.”
There are enough candidates.
Though nine players in the Flames roster have never won a series, the team put up a solid effort in their first attempt to knock out Dallas.
The man who knows these scenarios best is Sutter, who has a 7-3 record in Game 7.
His legendary ability to prepare players will be key to how his team will respond to the pressure, the noise and the situation.
The Flames insist they learned a lot from their playoff exits two and three years ago.
We’ll find out how much tonight.
We’ll also find out if Chris Tanev is capable of anchoring a blue line that is so dependent on his leadership.
He exited Game 6 after two Stars players fell on him while he was prone.
Few expect him to return any time soon.
Nikita Zadorov avoided a possible suspension for a goal in Game 6 against Luke Glendening on Saturday. While you can expect him to bring the physicality that has become one of the team’s hallmarks, don’t expect him to try to settle any scores with Jamie Benn.
The focus must be on nothing but victory.
The whole province relies on it.
The stakes are so high, the moment is so big.