Ducks: 11-4-4 26 points, 1st in the division, 1st conference, 3rd league
Flames: 11-6-2 24 points, 3rd in division, 5th conference, 8th league
Good news for Flames fans, Jonas Hiller is pumped up to face his old team:
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"I’m definitely excited to play those guys,” Hiller said following Monday’s practice. “It’s going to be more special than a usual game. It definitely makes it more special if you know a lot of guys you face and some guys you’ve played with for the last seven years. You can’t deny that. It’s a little bit more than a usual game."
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I think the Ducks are stinging after only their 4th regulation loss on Sunday to, of course, The Florida Panthers. The Panthers offense kicked it into high gear scoring 6 goals on a team that had a big emotional let down after back-to-back, knock-down, drag-out, absolute wars on ice between the Ducks and Kings. To be sure, the Ducks are smarting after losing so badly and playing so poorly. Here is a sample of some of the post-game comments.
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Getzlaf: Overall, we’re just embarrassed. It’s embarrassing to play like that in our building. Top to bottom, we weren’t good tonight. We need to recognize that and get better. We have to learn. You have to get wins in your building, especially when you’re heading out to some tough buildings. Emotionally, we need to get ready for Tuesday.
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I’m worried.
We all know the Ducks are good. They’re the 2nd best team in the league, and the loss on Sunday was their first in regulation in 7 games, the last being a 2-0 loss to the Blues. It should be noted, however, that the game on Sunday was only the second that did not go to overtime or a shootout since that Blues game. In those 6 games that went past regulation, they won 2 and lost 4. They’re playing well enough to win, but not dominating anyone at the moment. Such is life in the NHL that has a salary cap and floor, creating great amounts of parity. The recent stretch of OT/shootout games came after they were ridiculously hot to start the year. After a loss on opening night to the Penguins, the Ducks rattled off 7 straight wins to shoot ahead of the competition. Now, they’ve fallen back to the pack a little, and within grasp of the upstart Calgary Flames.
The Flames are coming off another solid win against the Senators, who aren’t a slouch team if you have seen them this year or look at the standings. Calgary has put together 2 very good games after a disappointing loss to the Hurricanes to end their last road trip. They hope the ‘Dome continues to provide the good jou-jou and keep their unsustainable advance stats “unsustainable”. Fact remains, this is the top offensive club in the West, and that shouldn’t be something dismissed too easily, especially with the injuries to the forward ranks that may have been blessings in disguise. They also have the best goal differential in their division and are 4th in the conference behind St. Louis, Chicago, and Minnesota.
Both these teams have done well so far this year, and subsequently there is little difference between the big stats, but let’s look at where they differ:
Faceoffs: Oh this could get ugly. The Ducks are the 4th best team in the league with a 52.8% on the dot. The Flames have a woeful 46.3% and are 2nd worst. A lot of that has to do with the injuries to center and a bunch of inexperienced kids being forced to take draws, but it is what it is. Those possession numbers are about to take another huge hit tonight.
Penalty Kill: Anaheim is middle of the pack with 81.4% kill but the Flames are only 24th with their 77.8% kill. It’s not a huge gap percentage points wise, but it makes a difference in a game.
Powerplay: The Flames have continued to maintain their effectiveness with the man advantage at 22% good for 8th. The Ducks are solid at 18.5%, good for 15th.
5 on 5: Anaheim is pretty good at 1.03, but the Flames are great at 1.18.
Shots for: Anaheim is very good at this, getting 31.6 per game so far. The Flames? Not so good, getting only 26.5.
Shots against: Calgary isn’t so bad in this category limiting the opposition to 29.4 and being ranked 15th, but the Ducks are slightly better allowing only 28.9 good for 12th
Goals for: The Flames have the 5th ranked offense in the entire league at 3.05 GF/G. The Ducks are surprisingly low at only 2.58 GF/G, good for the 20th rank.
Now, if I had told you at the beginning of the season, that on the 20th game of the year the Flames would be battling the Anaheim Ducks, not only for the division lead, but the conference lead as well? Obviously, I would have been laughed out of the forum like Aaron Ward was on the day he picked the Flames to make the playoffs. Who’s laughing now?
In all seriousness, this should be a great game, between a young and upcoming team and an established veteran powerhouse. I think the Flames have speed and work ethic to match the Ducks’ size and skill. What it will come down to is who executes their game plan more effectively. These teams are close in many categories, much closer than I would have anticipated. I’m looking forward to this one.
Flames
Glencross-Monahan-Setoguchi (Jones is a gametime decision)
Gaudreau-Granlund-Hudler
Baertschi-Jooris-Byron
Bollig-Bouma-McGrattan
Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Wideman
Smid-Engelland
Hiller
Ducks
Maroon-Getlzaf-Perry
Silfverberg-Kesler-Beleskey
Rakell-Karlsson-Cogliano
Etem-Thompson-Jackman
Fowler-Beauchemin?-recovering from the Mumps
Lindholm-Vatanen
Stoner-Manson
Andersen
Go Flames Go!
Flames vs. Ducks, Hiller's revenge, 7 p.m., SNW
