Avalanche and Flames have no playoff history, but do have a history of hatred

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Gabe Landeskog just smiled at the post-morning skate question:

“So, where are you and Matthew Tkachuk going for dinner if the Calgary Flames are your playoff opponent?”

Landeskog lost four games of pay last season after cross-checking Tkachuk in the back of the head, an action that might have earned the Avalanche captain a pass-the-hat payment of the fine from players around the league, as Tkachuk is most certainly not the most well-liked guy in the league.

For the first time in the history of the teams, the Avalanche and Flames will meet in the postseason. So, while there is no payback to be had from previous playoff wars, let one thing be clear before the start of the series: these teams don’t like each other.

Not only was there the Landeskog-Tkachuk fracas that infuriated the Avs over what they felt was an unwarranted and overly punitive suspension against a player with his own history of dirty hits, but J.T. Compher’s lengthy absence with a concussion earlier this season was caused by a hit from Calgary’s Sam Bennett, in a game at the Pepsi Center.

They say it’s not a real rivalry until you play a team in the playoffs, though, so let’s get it on with Avs-Flames – a playoff matchup probably no one would have predicted before the start of the season. The Flames certainly weren’t anyone’s pick to win the Western Conference, but win it they did, and in comfortable fashion.

The NHL’s official schedule won’t be released until Sunday morning, but NHL sources told BSN Denver that Games 1 and 2 will be Thursday and Saturday at the Saddledome. The Avs finished up the regular season with a 5-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks here at SAP Center, a game that lost all its buzz when the Avs found out beforehand that they had no shot to jump into the first wild-card spot, that they’d finish eighth and Calgary would be the opponent.

The Avs had to rush to the San Jose airport after the game because of local late-night restrictions, so there wasn’t much time to discuss the Flames. But there was some reaction, starting with the goalie who will be tasked to stop them – Philipp Grubauer.

“Good team. We’ll look at them more in the next couple of days, get some rest and get ready. We’ll be ready,” Grubauer told BSN Denver.

Grubauer does have some playoff experience, none of it happy. He actually was the Washington Capitals’ starting goaltender at the start of last season’s playoffs – and we all know the Caps went on to win the Stanley Cup. Grubauer, however, lost his two starts, to Columbus, and never played again for the team.

Asked about that time, Grubauer said simply, “That was last year.”

Here’s what Erik Johnson said of the matchup with the Flames: “We’ll cross over into the other division now, something we haven’t done before. They’ll be a tough opponent for sure, and it should be fun to have a series in Canada. They’re all hard and physical, no matter who you play, and have a lot of meaning. We were one of the hottest teams in the league down the stretch, so we’ll have some momentum. No doubt, we’ll be the underdog against them, but we’re one of the hotter teams in the league right now, so that’s why they have the playoffs.”

Here’s Jared Bednar on the Flames: “They make a lot of plays. They play at a good pace. They play with a good mix of determination and skill. They’re a good team, a real good team. It’s gonna be a fun series, for everyone. You’re playing a Canadian opponent, a lot of our Western Canadian guys will have a lot of friends and family in the building. We’re excited to be back in the playoffs, and it’ll be a great challenge for us against a tough opponent.”

Earlier in the day, Avs defender Nikita Zadorov said, of the Avs’ potential playoff opponents, a series with the Flames would probably be “the most dirty.”

Let’s get it on.

NOTES FROM TONIGHT

• Nathan MacKinnon finished the season with 41 goals and 99 points. The Avs tried hard to get him that 100th point at the end, with Bednar playing him extended shifts in the final few minutes. But that C-note point didn’t happen.
• Mikko Rantanen skated earlier in the day, in a non-contact jersey. Bednar said he is progressing, etc, etc. It seems positive he’ll be ready for Game 1, but in this business, you’re never quite sure when it comes to injuries and the playoffs.
• Semyon Varlamov allowed four goals in what could have been his final game as an Av. Unless Grubauer gets hurt or lit up in the playoffs to the extent Bednar feels he needs to make a change, he’ll be the backup when the playoffs start.
• A couple of Avs came up limping after blocking shots – Sven Andrighetto and J.T. Compher. But both players played on and seemed fine after the game.
• The Avs can sign 2017 top draftee Cale Makar when his college season ends with UMass, either Thursday or Saturday. He’s a native of Calgary, too. It’s a real possibility he could play in the series. It’ll be a tough call for managagement, as the Avs would burn a year off his ELC if he plays, but adding college hockey’s top player in the middle of a playoff series? Yeah, it would be a potentially very nice addition.