Stanley Cup Playoff Preview: 12 things about Ducks vs. Jets

The Anaheim Ducks had the best record in the West. The Calgary Flames might have been the biggest surprise guest to the postseason party.

Who earns the right to play for the conference crown?

1. Jonas Hiller vs. Anaheim Ducks: This Ish is Personal.

The narrative for this series has to begin with Flames goaltender Jonas Hiller.

For seven seasons, Hiller was a member of the Anaheim Ducks. Hiller supplanted J.S. Giguere as the No. 1 goaltender, and towards the end of the 2014 season, the writing was on the wall that Frederik Andersen was going to replace him.

Hiller’s final games with the Ducks were less than memorable. After dropping the first 2 games in Round 2 against Los Angeles, Hiller was replaced by Andersen. In Game 3, Andersen was injured with about 10 minutes to go in the third, and Hiller took over. The Ducks ended up winning the game with Hiller getting the decision. So naturally, Bruce Boudreau would put Hiller in for Game 3, right? NOPE. This is Boudreau we’re talking about. He called up and started rookie John Gibson instead.

After all those years of dedication to the team and getting the win in Game 3, Hiller was effectively slapped in the face by the head coach. It looked like a genius move by BB for 2 games, but Gibson eventually fell apart. Hiller had to come in and mop up the mess in Game 7. By that point, he was already one-skate out the door. In the off-season he was reunited with Brian Burke, who originally signed him in Anaheim, in Calgary. This is Hiller’s series to prove that the Ducks made a mistake by letting him walk.

In the playoffs so far, Anderson and Hiller are fairly equal, statistically speaking. Hiller started in 6 games and went 3-2-0 with a no decision in Calgary’s Game 6 comeback after he was pulled. In the 6 games, he amassed a .931 save-percentage and 2.20 goals-against. Anderson started and won all 4 games for Anaheim; he also had a 2.20 GAA, but had a slightly lower save-percentage at .924.

Both goalies are inclined to give up soft goals each game. It remains to be seen if the normally laid back Hiller is pushed into another gear in order to enact his revenge.

2. If you watch only one period of games in the series, watch the third.

Each team has the penchant for magic tricks when it comes to the third period.

In the regular season, the Flames scored 99 goals in the third period, tied with the Lightning for the best in the NHL. Not far behind were the Ducks at 85.

Even though Anaheim played two fewer games than Calgary thus far in the playoffs, they’re tied at 9 goals each in the third, tops of all the playoff teams. In 3 of 4 games versus the Jets, Anaheim was trailing entering the third period. They went on to come back and win those games. As for Calgary, they’re 2-0-0 when leading after two periods, and 2-1-0 when trailing after two.

In the regular season, the Ducks led the NHL with 12 wins when trailing after two; the Flames had 10 wins.

3. Bruce Boudreau needs to break second round curse.

Aside from players who wear jersey No. 8, the bane of Boudreau’s coaching existence is making it past the second round of the playoffs. Of his eight seasons behind an NHL bench, he’s missed the playoffs once, and lost in the second round four times. He is blessed with teams that are full of talent. Yet, for whatever reason, be it his judgment or their play, they simply cannot get to the Conference Finals. Some have surmised that if he doesn’t go deep with the Ducks this post-season, his job could be in jeopardy. (Seems unlikely, unless Mike Babcock wants to return…)

With the addition of Ryan Kesler, a stable presence in net, and a revamped blue line, Boudreau has been given what he’s lacked in seasons past. This team isn’t Boudreau-proof, though. As said before, his worst enemy is his own mind. Should things go south versus Calgary, he’ll resort to the usual ‘lines in a blender’ smoothie and hope it works.

4. Rest vs. Rust

The Flames finished the first round on Saturday, April 25; leaving them four off-days before Thursday’s opener. One of the days was used for travel to Southern California.

The Ducks completed their sweep of the Jets on Wednesday, April 22, and had a whole week off. Boudreau gave his charges a few free days before getting back to work.

5. Which power play is for real?

The Ducks are clicking at a 27.3-percent power play conversion rate (3-for-11). The Flames are at 27.8 percent (5-of-18). Which was is fo’ real? Well, in the regular season the Ducks were No. 28 in the NHL on the power play at 15.7 percent (37 of 235) and the Flames were No. 13 at 18.8 percent (48 for 255). The Ducks had a slightly better kill (81.0 percent) than the Flames (80.6) in the regular season.

6. The Battle of the Goal Horns

Flames

Ducks

Two meh songs. But the Flames take it with that horn.

7. Super Sized

At the start of the season, the Ducks were the heaviest team in the NHL with an average weight of 210.1 pounds. The Flames were … No. 30, at 196.3 pounds. Bob Hartley’s gameplan to combat this robust size disadvantage: "Skate around them.”

8. Scoring Beyond The Top Line

The Flames’ top line accounted for 17 points against the Canucks, but it wasn’t a three-man show. David Jones had five points, Michael Ferland had four as did Matt Stajan. The Flames got scoring from their defense too. This will be crucial in this series given how the Ducks will target the top line

9. The Ferland Factor

Talk about your out of nowhere playoff heroes. Ferland made his playoff debut in the first round and had two goals, two assists and delivered 40 hits to the Canucks. If the Flames are going to have a chance in shutting down Perry and Getzlaf, his line will play a pivotal role.

10. The Fancy Stats

The Flames continue to defy logic, as they’re near the bottom of the playoffs in puck possession, as they were in the regular season. When the score is within a goal? The Flames have a 44.4 percent corsi; the Ducks have a 54.2 percent corsi. Will Calgary continue to be the flag-bearer for anti-analytics critics?

11. Rage In The Past

If the Ducks find themselves behind in the series to Calgary, they need to look back on a fight from the 2006 playoffs. The epic battle between Francois Beauchemin and Jarome Iginla sparked a rage in the Ducks that lifted them over the Calgary in 7 games. Sure, Iggy isn’t there anymore, but Beauchemin is. He probably won’t have a problem finding a dance partner.

12. Ducks in 6.

The Ducks have the better depth. I see the Flames as a younger version of the Ducks in the early part of the Bruce Boudreau era. They have a few stars, up-and-coming talent, and some veterans mixed in; however, that group is not as fine tuned as it will likely be in the next season or two. The Ducks mix is just better suited for a longer playoff run because of experience. Calgary will be dangerous, but not just yet.