Western Conference Playoffs - Round 2: Flames vs Ducks (Ducks win 4-1)

[N-E-B]

I'm excited about playing the Ducks. Should be a good test for our guys to see how far they've come, or to see how much work they still need to put in.

Flames in 7.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

I don't know, I would give the flames worse odds against Chicago or Minnesota than Anaheim, that's just me though. Chicago is just Chicago and Minny is a rolling snowball of doom. Anaheim seems beatable by comparison.

However, 2004 seemed far more daunting at the time and in hindsight. If that can be done, so can this. I like the optimism btw

If the Flames somehow beat the Ducks they're going to the cup final, that's just the way this team works

[Rollin22x]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

Does Jackman even scrap anymore?

Jackman was one of the first players to go after Johnny Hockey with a few cross checks after the whistle had blown in one of the first games we played them this season. He is someone to watch out for and hopefully deal with right away.

[indes]

So bad news guys, got moved to night shift for the next 3 weeks. I was 4-0 watching the first round live. (Had to PVR the 2 losses). I am currently seeking a new job. Anyone looking for pipefitters let me know!

[hockey.modern]

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Originally Posted by browna

Plus, one on one fights are archaic to Engelland. Not worth his time unless he's unloading bombs two guys at once.

Originally Posted by Deryk Engelland

"Well, I haven't fought one person for so long. I've been specialised in groups, battling gangs for local charities, that kind of thing... You use different moves when you're fighting half a dozen people, than when you only have to be worried about one."

[Street Pharmacist]

Here's my expert analysis:

While Anaheim gets more rest, they also had a vastly more physical series and too long of rest can lead to rust. It's also the first round where rest doesn't mean much. Advantage no one.

Home ice advantage with regards to Calgary, would seem to be definitely a win for Anaheim. Not so fast. None of current players for Calgary care. Hudler has won there, Johnny has only played there twice. What has happened a decade ago has no relevance to the current players any more than the "haven't made it past the first round since '04" or "haven't made the playoffs in 5 years". Seriously, why is the fact they haven't won in Anaheim since 04 more certain than the fact they haven't gotten past the first round? Anaheim was no better at home than on the road this year, but flames were slightly worse on the road. Slight advantage Anaheim.

Fan support. Both home and away it's Flames. Advantage Calgary

Scoring was not a problem for the Flames. They outscored Anaheim in the regular season and are the 4th highest scoring western conference team. Anaheim has Perry and Getzlaf, we can match pretty easily with our top line. Anaheim's second line will test Calgary far more than Vancouver's did. After that though, I think Calgary is deeper at forward. Defensive scoring is actually a wash. Calgary's defense scored 45 goals to Anaheim's 41. Both were in the top tier in the league, and rely fairly heavily on the D joining the rush. Only 3 goals apart 5v5 (161 vs 158), so pretty even anyway you slice it. No Advantage

Goals against left both teams in the bottom half of the league, but again were only 3 goals apart 5v5 (CGY 155 vs ANA 152). There's little differentiating the defensive stats 5v5 between the two teams. Both teams have had a dominant shutdown pair in the regular season. Calgary's new top pair isn't really shut down, so Anaheim wins the defensive depth fight. However, defense isn't only played by defensemen, as forwards need you play as part of a 5 man unit and therefore No advantage to either team

Special teams is a funny one. Calgary had both a better PP% and more opportunities, though not a crazy difference. The PK is where things get interesting. Calgary recieved a pretty average amount of powerplays, but they took the fewest penalties. Anaheim took the 6th most. The discrepancy will shrink in the playoffs, but with the players Anaheim has (Kesler, Perry, Beauchemin, etc) they're going to take runs at the goalie, liberties with Johnny, crosschecks to Brodie, etc. It's going to be how Calgary responds. If they respond like against the Canucks (turn away, fight at the end if the game rather than retaliatory fights) they will win the special teams battle. Advantage Calgary

Hiller will be highly motivated to beat Anaheim, but motivation with a goaltender is largely irrelevant. They can't "save harder" like a player can use motivation to skate harder, hit harder or shoot harder when they're winded, losing momentum etc. Both teams had very average goalies statistically. Gibson seems to be the goalie that let's the bad one in, Hiller has done it at times too. I'm gonna say Advantage no one



Miscellaneous:

Calgary is a team of destiny, with young players who don't "know" they aren't supposed to be there. They don't "remember" nice May vacations with their kids. They live in the now, hockey is their world and they've got a city behind them. They believe. Don't underestimate the power of that. Anaheim has experience, but Calgary has an upstart quality that seems to ignore it. No name rookie Josh Jooris telling Olympic Gold Medal winning, two Stanley Cup having, Drew Doughty casually to shut his mouth while skating away is the video worth a thousand words. They just don't care what you've done.

Both Anaheim and Calgary are very used to trailing heading into the third period (Anaheim actually did it more!). Both are great at holding leads after two. Basically, neither team shows up until the third period. Should make for some interesting dramatics as no lead will be safe.

Anaheim finished only 12 points ahead of Calgary and many of those points were earned from shootouts, which don't happen in playoffs. There isn't much separating them 5v5. Anaheim has either been more clutch, or more lucky and the truth is in the eye of the beholder.

The only two things Anaheim has that Calgary doesn't are a healthy roster and fancy stats.

The two things Calgary has that Anaheim doesn't are discipline and an intangible belief from the fans all the way to the coach and the players. There's something special here.

Anaheim did a great job neutralizing Johnny by physically bullying him. If we thought he took a couple questionable hits from Vancouver, we haven't seen anything yet. Expect more slashes, more boarding, more scrums. Calgary needs to not retaliate. As a Flames Fan, it's infuriating to see no push back after a cheap shot. However, is why the flames beat the fancy stats. SKATE AWAY. Pick your timing for payback when it isn't going to cost the team.

[Phanuthier]

Great writeup SP, but one thing I think you mentioned that will be key is Anahaim has some big bodies that will lean on our D, who is playing 5 when we need to play 6. The key to the series will really to be how long can Wideman, Russell, Brodie and Engelland last. Brodie looks effortless out there and Engelland can hold his own, so I think the series will depend mostly on how Wideman and Russell handles the big 2 lines in Anahaim. TBD.

The second key is how our big lines lines up with their big line. Will the 1 week rest be enough for Hudler? And Monahan? We somehow managed to win 4 games against Vancouver when 3 of them they were ineffective and one of them, they were completely invisible. But the last 2 games, Hudler looks a lot better and Monahan does look like he's waking up, so thats good news. I am shocked we managed to make it out of that series when our big line struggled so much, so if they struggle again (or arent completely healed yet) I can't see us having the same fortunes. Advantage to Anahaim.

Third is going to be faceoffs... off the top of my head (didnt look at stats, hope I'm not wrong) we seemed to get destroyed on faceoffs against Vancouver and somehow we survived that. (Between this, the first line being half baked and all those advanced stats crap, still can't believe we made it past the first round). We obviously aren't a possession team, but those faceoffs would be my 3rd key for make or break series. So I give the advantage to the Ducks.

For me, I think Anahaim takes this series, but I doubted them most of the season anyways and was wrong there.

[ScorchyScorch]

posession, shots, corsi, all the fancy stats often take a backseat to heart when it comes to playoffs.

that 'heart' factor can be unsustainable over 82 games a lot of times, but when it comes to playoffs, that's half of what gets you far. making good on your momentum and your chances, feeding off your crowd. timely goals. resiliency. that's been the way the Flames have been doing things all season, and why they have a more realistic chance here than nearly everyone is giving them going in. Anaheim can and probably will dominate in a lot of stats categories, but the Flames can still win despite it.

there will be many comebacks, and swings in momentum. with these teams, you just know it.

[EldrickOnIce]

I expect Anaheim will target the Calgary defense, particularly Russell and Wideman. Anaheim is fast, plays heavy. How the D holds up largely determines Calgary's fate.

[SHOGUN]

I feel this will be a frustrating series for the Flames....

[Tinordi]

Can see the Ducks really gumming things up for the flames at even strength.

Special teams are probably going to be even more important than they usually are for this team.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by SHOGUN

I feel this will be a frustrating series for the Flames....

In order to become the best, you need to beat the best.

[3thirty]

Should we use the power of the gnome to get Corey Perry off his game?

http://www.ontheforecheck.com/2011/5...or-the-canucks

On opening night I was blessed with the opportunity to have the bench seats. During this time, we had purchased a Predators garden gnome and set it facing the Anaheim bench. Now, as you can imagine it certainly got looks. Corry Perry in particular couldn't take his eyes off the garden gnome. Might I suggest we invest in a garden gnome or two and set them up in the bench seats so that the gnome can continue to haunt Mr. Corry "cheapshot" Perry?

This is the what transpired in the box...

Perry got so creeped out that when he got back to the bench, he took one look at the gnome and he slammed the door as hard as he could to try to knock the gnome off and then when that didn't work, he refused to sit there again for the entire game. He literally motioned for someone else on his line to sit there instead of him.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by 3thirty

Should we use the power of the gnome to get Corey Perry off his game?

http://www.ontheforecheck.com/2011/5...or-the-canucks

Get one, but overlay Johnny's face on it somehow. Pretty close to life sized.

[UKflames]

The Ducks have had a big lay off since beating the Jets in 4 and the possibility of this series not starting until Thursday or Friday, when does rest turn into rust??

At this time of year you just need to keep rolling, stay in the groove and all those other types of cliches. The Ducks have had a long time to go over this next series in their minds, have they got tight or too loose. This break for the Ducks could really go in our favour.

On the flip side for the flames, finishing Saturday but having a few days off until the next start gives some of the guys a chance to heal up a bit.

[Blixa]

I Hope that Flames target on those young defenceman, Vatanen, Lindholm and Fowler. Beauchemin can take care of himself but those young puck carriers should be the targets for Bollig and Ferland, and maybe Bouma. Hit them hard and every time.

Getzlaf looks like injured, but Perry has been excellent.
BTW. Perry nickname is Worm, as per Cogliano.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by robaur

I want to know why referring to Corey Perry as Katy Perry is such a big deal?

Please explain all angles. Thank you.

Well we already have Sam Bennett living a teenage dream.

[Meelapo]

Does CBC still stream games? Do they have regional restrictions? I'll be in Chicago next week and was hoping I could stream this as I don't think the hotel will have the specialty channels that broadcast games.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Meelapo

Does CBC still stream games? Do they have regional restrictions? I'll be in Chicago next week and was hoping I could stream this as I don't think the hotel will have the specialty channels that broadcast games.

I have streamed every game from CBC's site and the quality has been fantastic. There are regional restrictions, but these are easily navigable with a proxy server or VPN.