[PST] Playoff Series Thread: Ducks (1st Pacific) vs Flames (1st Wild Card)

[McG]

Flames in 6.

Split in California in the first two games propels Flames.

Our PP will go a long way in deciding this series; score and it keeps the Ducks from shenanigans, don't score and I expect the Ducks to take liberties all over the ice.

I'm hoping that Elliott can steal at least one game, and that Brouwer has been resting for the playoffs.

I could focus on Ducks, but this is sports, so Flames in 6.

[TheIronMaiden]

Power Play:

The Flames have a 20.2 PP% ranked 10th in the league
The Ducks have a 18.7 PP% ranked 17th in the league

Penalty Kill:

The Flames have a 81.6 PK% ranked 12th in the league
The Ducks have a 84.7 PK% ranked 4th in the league

This is not as lopsided as some might suggest.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

Remenda doesn't have a series.

Millen doing Ottawa/Boston
Simpson doing Leafs/Caps
Galley doing Rangers/Habs
Debrusk doing Oilers/Sharks

What's up with Hrudey? Is he not working the playoffs this year?

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I am honestly surprised by the number of people who are predicting the Flames to win only one game.

There are eight series in the first round. History suggests there will probably be one sweep and a couple 5 game series. The three most lop-sided series, in terms of the Vegas line, will likely be Caps vs Leafs, Hawks vs Preds, and Ducks vs Flames. Nothing surprising about hockey analysts calling Ducks in 5.

[ResAlien]

Maybe there's some sort of Wideman effect for the Ducks after their own suspension for hitting a ref incident. If the refs don't let the Ducks play their, let's call it "borderline legal", style of play that will go a long way to helping the Flames out. Like most others​ my heart says Flames but my brain says Sucks. Stupid brain.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by polak

I woke up with an overwhelmingly positive vibe.

I'm thinking the Flames from the streak will show up in this round and they will win it in 6. Yeah I said it.

If the Flames from the last two weeks show up at least I'll save some money.

Who are you and what did you do with polak?

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

What's up with Hrudey? Is he not working the playoffs this year?

Assuming Hrudey will be part of the panel like he is on HNIC.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

What's up with Hrudey? Is he not working the playoffs this year?

He will be in studio as per the usual HNIC setup.

[TheIronMaiden]

Injuries comparison:

The Ducks

S. Despres, D Oct 13, 2016 IR Concussion-like symptoms
C. Stoner, D Nov 16, 2016 IR Abdominal surgery
C. Fowler, D Apr 4, 2017 day-to-day Knee
K. Holzer, D Apr 4, 2017 day-to-day Personal reasons
P. Eaves, RW Apr 9, 2017 day-to-day Undisclosed injury

The Flames:
Chad Johnson G Wed, Apr 5, 2017 : Leg

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/team/anaheim-ducks/injuries

[Flamenspiel]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

Maybe there's some sort of Wideman effect for the Ducks after their own suspension for hitting a ref incident. If the refs don't let the Ducks play their, let's call it "borderline legal", style of play that will go a long way to helping the Flames out. Like most others​ my heart says Flames but my brain says Sucks. Stupid brain.

All teams have to win playing borderline legal in the playoffs, its part of learning how to win in the playoffs. If the Flames do not play this take no prisoners type of game they will go out in 4. Even the Blackhawks become a dirty team in the playoffs.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

Bouma out and Lazar or Hathaway in please

Bouma is the perfect meat shield in a series like this. Hathaway and Lazar will get in. Just keep gettin in dem lanes, Booms.

Flames in 6. They only need to beat the Ducks in Anaheim once and the whole mystique evaporates.

Don't kid yourselves, the Flames can hang with the Ducks. Especially over seven games. I think they're going to hate chasing the top 4 D around for a long series.

[MissTeeks]

[Par]

How do the lines match up? Which lines matchup would you like to see?

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Quick question for you all. What line up changes (if any) do you see the Flames making?

Lazar in? Bouma out? Stajan out? You want to play fast, but you can't sacrifice toughness. At the same time, you can't play grit just for the sake of it if they can't produce.

What? Bouma is the type of player we want in the playoffs. His hits hurt, they wear people down, they can force dmen to move the puck quicker than they want. Shot blocks can be game saving too. We want more Bouma, Ferland, Tkachuk, Engelland types in the more physical, tighter checking playoffs, not less.

Stajan's experience seems like a no brainer to keep in the lineup.

I don't see the need to tinker at all.

[robaur]

uh oh. whats wrong with monahan ?

[ComixZone]

Given those practice lines, looks like we're going to see the expected:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Versteeg - Bennett - Chiasson
Bouma - Stajan - Brouwer

with Lazar and Hamilton watching.

So how do those line-up?

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland Vs. Cogliano - Kesler - Silfverberg
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik Vs. Ritchie - Getzlaf - Eaves
Versteeg - Bennett - Chiasson Vs. Rakell - Vermette - Perry
Bouma - Stajan - Brouwer Vs. Wagner - Thompson - Shaw

I hope Lazar can draw in on that 4th line, because I think he and Brouwer showed some decent chemistry and that Anaheim 4th line could potentially get exposed if we match-up 4th Vs. 4th.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by robaur

uh oh. whats wrong with monahan ?

Likely just a maintenance day. The fact that Lazar is filling in for him in practice is a good sign he's not expected to miss any games.

[polak]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Who are you and what did you do with polak?

My heart is louder than my brain today.

[Nabber]

I personally want to see Brouwer back with Versteeg and Bennett. Which was the line when Flames went on that big run so why mess with that? Yes I know Brouwer is the recent whipping boy, but he's suppose to be someone acquired for the playoffs so put him in a place to succeed rather than the fourth line. Also Bouma, Stajan, and Chiasson have been very effective together. CP make the lineup changes happen like in the past!!

[TurdFerguson]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Given those practice lines, looks like we're going to see the expected:


Versteeg - Bennett - Chiasson Vs. Rakell - Vermette - Perry

that's the matchup, should it play out, that concerns me the most.

[Yamer]

I don't have a lot of confidence for this one, so logic says Ducks in 5.

I so can't wait to be proven WRONG.