I'll try to be positive here. The Ducks are beatable for this Flames iteration.
The Flames played a very sloppy game. Bad PP (very easy to see in the 3rd), bad discipline, dominated in the faceoff circle, notably bad puck handling by Backlund and Hamilton early, and mostly on Elliott and Monahan trying to will the team to win. But they still had a shot throughout. Never did I think the Flames looked like they were out of the game entirely (outside maybe the mental collapse after the line change goal). Traded chances many times and the Ducks couldn't keep the defensive shell going for 20 minutes in the 3rd.
Was it getting ugly at the end? Yeah. The Flames were locked out of good scoring chances for about 12 minutes in the 3rd and threw away the gift wrapped opportunity late. But for all those issues above, I think many will clear themselves up next game and the Flames will be competitive the whole series.
It won't be a slaughter like in 2015. I feel they stand a chance of winning in Anaheim this series whereas it felt like a pipe dream last time.
__________________
|