I really don't want to face the Ducks more because of the fact that they are more dirty, and that they are a much bigger and much more physical team than Chicago. WHEN the Flames beat the Ducks, I am pretty sure that there would be some injuries to the team.
However, if the Flames beat Anaheim in Anaheim in the first or second game, it will completely throw the series out of whack. Flames would probably get a tonne of confidence and throw that proverbial monkey off their back. It would get Anaheim out of their heads, and possibly even place the Flames squarely in Anaheim's heads.
I will still take Chicago, though. #1 target for the Flames becomes Keith. Get him off his game, and that series becomes a lot easier to win. Throw the puck in his corner and have guys coming at him hard (like Ferland) and I do think you have a chance. Put Tkachuk in his ear all game, and I bet he takes a bad penalty or two on top of it.
Question then becomes how the Flames would shut-down a Panarin - Kane duo, while keeping Toews and Hossa from getting on the scoreboard while they focus on Panarin and Kane. They are a smart, fast and very experienced team that knows how to win.
Ducks are a wonderfully effective half-season team that can totally crank out the wins better than any other team in the NHL on the way to the playoffs, but seem to be unable to win in the last 10 years. Plus, the Boudreau curse.
Still prefer Chicago on this one, but at the end of the day it doesn't matter too much. Flames will just have to annihilate whomever they meet.
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