It's hard to say.
Chicago are a very good team in the playoffs. They usually step up quite a few gears in the post-season. I feel like they've been kind of cruising the last few weeks and just saving it for the playoffs. Overall, they have more dangerous and clinical players than the Ducks. They can quickly run up a score before you even blink. Honestly, the thought of Panarin and Kane scares me.
I don't think there is a big difference between the Ducks and us. We're not a few levels below them. We were 2 years ago when we met them in the second round. That was a battering if I'm being honest. But not now. I know we've just lost to them twice but both games were close and they weren't really that much better than us. The gap between the 2 teams is not as big as it was 2 years ago in my opinion.
If we played the Hawks right now I just have a feeling they might overwhelm us. At least in the first couple of games until we figure them out. With the Ducks we know exactly what we're going to get. It will be a tough and bruising series but I am going to go for the Ducks simply because I think we have a lot of points to prove and are determined to prove them. Chicago aren't really a physical team and that series would be low on hits, cheap shots and dirty plays. Whereas the Ducks would be completely the opposite. At this stage, you are going to get a good team anyway. I really believe we can beat the Ducks. A lot of bounces haven't gone our way against them, but they won't last forever. They are a very clever team in the sense that they walk a fine line with what they can get away with and wind you up in the process. The key is not to get flustered or react, because that is exactly what they want.
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