Several Flames Have Experience In One-Game Playoffs

Tonight’s game with the Los Angeles Kings is effectively the first of two potential one-game playoffs, with the winners likely advancing to the Stanley Cup playoffs. (Granted, the game against Winnipeg is moot if the Flames can win tonight.)

That led me to think about which Flames in tonight’s line-up have experience in games that are one-and-done.

Here’s what I found. This list excludes players who played in Game 7s in an effort to keep things simple.

Backlund has a lot of one-game playoff experience. He played with the Kelowna Rockets in the finals of the 2009 Memorial Cup, losing in the final game. He also has gone to the gold medal game in two consecutive World Junior Championships with Sweden – losing twice – and went to the final game of the World Hockey Championship, also losing.

I’m sure he’d love to get a win finally.

Calgary’s alternate captain has both a lot of experience and a lot of success in one-game playoffs. While he lost in the 2007 Memorial Cup final while with the Medicine Hat Tigers, he did win two gold medals in the World Junior Championships with Team Canada.

It was awhile ago, granted, but Corey Potter has gold medals from both the World Under-18 Championships and World Junior Championships with Team USA.

Oh yeah, this guy.

Gaudreau has won an NCAA Championship in a one-and-done final with Boston College, as well as a World Junior Championship gold medal with Team USA.

Matt Stajan lost in the gold medal game at the World Juniors once.

David Schlemko was Kris Russell’s teammate the year they lost in the Memorial Cup finals.

Michael Ferland lost in the Memoral Cup final in 2010 with the Brandon Wheat Kings.