After a six year drought, playoff hockey returns to the Saddledome tonight.
The series between the Flames and the Canucks is tied at a game apiece with Calgary coming off a 4-1 loss in Vancouver.
Coach Bob Hartley is excited to get that game behind him and concentrate on winning tonight. “It’s going to be great. Fans are excited ane we can feel it. Kids are running in the street with Flames jerseys. We had a taste in the game against the Kings – the game that we needed to win. I felt like that was a playoff atmosphere and tonight that will probably multiply by two.”
Tonight’s game is a dream come true for forward Joe Colbourne. He grew up in Calgary cheering for the Flames. “It’s going to be a lot of fun, a lot of excitement and a lot of nerves. It’ll be so much fun to have our crowd behind us. We were getting pictures from different spots from around the city showing how crazy it was for game 1 and 2 and I’m sure it’s going to be even more crazy now that we’re back home.”
Flames Alternate Captain, Kris Russell, says the sea of red expected at the Dome for tonight’s game will be electrifying. “It’s going to be exciting. I mean we’ve had great fans all year and the tempo is going to turn up in here. I think everyone in this dressing room is really excited to play in front of our home fans, but at the same time we have to make sure we’re ready and prepared for the opening faceoff.”
There hasn't been playoff action at the Dome since 2009.
Puck drop is at 8 p.m.
