Flaming mad: Who will be playing the bad guy?
Remember Dino Ciccarelli and Harold Snepts?
If you do recall those villains from playoff hockey past in Chicago, you understand there are certain members of the Calgary Flames that Blackhawks fans will come to dislike greatly over the next few weeks.
Here are the five leading candidates:
1. Dion Phaneuf - The Flames' overrated defenseman loves to give the evil eye and will be flying around the ice trying to hit every Hawk in sight.
2. Todd Bertuzzi - This is the guy, remember, who ended the career of former Vancouver Canucks forward Steve Moore when he jumped him from behind and broke his neck a few years ago. Enough said.
3. Eric Nystrom - The Calgary winger gets only nine minutes a game, but he plays the kind of pesky game that makes it seem like he's on the ice a lot more.
4. Cory Sarich - The defenseman has a bad foot, but he might get in the series at some point. Better not turn your back on this sneaky hitter, whose questionable hit on Patrick Marleau last spring nearly caused a riot in San Jose.
5. Mike Keenan - It probably won't take long before the Calgary coach starts complaining about the officials or something else that doesn't go his team's way.
- Tim Sassone