The Anaheim Ducks and Calgary Flames meet in a second-round matchup featuring a contrast of styles—the size and strength of the Ducks against the speed and grit of the Flames. It is an unlikely and intriguing matchup because the Flames continue to be defy the odds.
The Ducks finished atop of the Western Conference with 113 points and then proceeded to sweep the Winnipeg Jets in four straight games. The Ducks dealt with the hard-hitting Jets and had the self-belief to turn losing situations into wins time and again.
The Flames, on the other hand, barely scraped into the playoffs, but were impressive in their elimination of the Vancouver Canucks in six games. As was the case in the regular season, against Vancouver, facing deficits never bothered the Flames.
Keys for the Flames
Jonas Hiller will need to bounce back after being pulled in Game 6 against Vancouver. The former Duck goalie gave up two goals on three shots before Karri Ramo replaced him. Flames coach Bob Hartley made it very clear who would start Game 1 in Anaheim. He knows what to expect from Anaheim.
“Jonas Hiller, there’s no doubt in my mind,” Hartley told the Calgary Herald. “I’m going to get bits and pieces, but I want him to focus on his own game.
“We had some scouts watching the Ducks in the first round. We played them so many times that we kind of know them and they know us. There’s not too many secrets left for playoff hockey.”
The top line featuring Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, and Jiri Hudler needs to be more consistent. The trio was outstanding in Game 6, combining for 10 points, but only had seven points combined in the previous five games.
Micheal Ferland was a thorn in the Canucks’ side, especially Kevin Bieksa’s. He will need to be the same prickly self against Anaheim.
The former Brandon Wheat King junior gives the Flames a physical and nasty element that they will need against a bigger and stronger Ducks team. Look for Ferland to target either Francois Beauchemin or Hampus Lindholm as they both log heavy minutes on the Ducks blue line.
Keys for the Ducks
The second line needs to remain hot like they did against Winnipeg. Ryan Kesler, Jakob Silfverberg, and Andrew Cogliano lit up the Jets in the first round, combining for 15 points in only four games.
