It wasn’t always pretty, but Anaheim got just enough goals and some great goal tending to take the 2-0 series lead.
From the drop of the puck both teams looked to set a physical and fast tone. Mission accomplished. The game began and stayed at a breakneck speed through the entirety of the first period. The Anaheim Ducks vastly outplayed the Flames, outshooting them 20-9 and controlling a huge amount of the opening frame. The Flames game plan of activating their defense for offense left them extremely vulnerable to odd-man rushes. This gave the Ducks four or five at least because of it and Matt Beleskey would make them pay.
A turnover in the neutral zone sprung Ryan Kesler and Beleskey on the 2 on 1. Kesler held and made a beautiful saucer pass right on Beleskey’s tape that he quickly deposited in the back of the net. Though being outplayed the Flames left the period only trailing by one due in large part to Kari Ramo. If not for Ramo the Ducks could have easily found themselves up three or four goals as they made great play after great play.
Period two saw play level a bit as the Flames were able to get some chance against the Ducks and Frederik Andersen. But Andersen and Ramo both stood tall keeping the score 1-0 through two periods. This period finally provided us with some animosity as it’s clear that very quickly these teams are starting to develop a hatred. Slashes, clearing the front of the net, face-washes and pushing after whistles are all part of the tension and passion that is playoff hockey. This period gave us our first glimpse of that in this series and it will only grow from this point forward.
The third period was a back and forth affair until the big guns took over. A breakout led by Ryan Getzlaf hit Corey Perry on the right wing side as the Ducks entered the Flames zone. Perry pulled up leaving the puck on a tee for Hampus Lindholm’s twisted wrister that beat Ramo high glove for a 2-0 Ducks lead. The Ducks would add an empty netter courtesy of Nate Thompson following a blocked shot from Getzlaf and a pass from Perry.
Frederik Andersen stood tall stopping all 30 shots for his first career playoff shut-out. Andersen held the fort as the Flames found their game and denied every chance they had. Ducks fed off his great play and found a way to dig this one out. Not a pretty but win is a win and Ducks have a 2-0 series lead.
Kesler the Agitator
Oil On Whyte
Ryan Kesler had a 20-27-47 stat line in the regular season. He played huge at times and was a great piece for the Ducks to get. But if you want to know why the Ducks pushed hard and brought him in look no further than these playoffs. He has been an absolute force on the score-sheet and in the areas that stats don’t count.
He has 3-3-6 +3 in the six playoff games the Ducks have played, he has been a beast in face-offs and has been winning puck battles and creating all kinds of offensive chances. He also has been playing the “villain” role and relishing the hate he gets from opposing teams. He seems to feed off of it and ramps it up to another level when the crowd is on him. As these playoffs go along Kesler just gets better and better and seems to make more things happen.
Kesler is also allowing Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry to be able to do more of what they want. Much was written about it when the trade was official but with Kesler the Ducks are deeper and not a “top heavy team.” Teams have to pay attention to Kesler and his line (especially when Jakob Silverberg is on it) and it allows for Getzlaf and Perry to not draw top defensive pairs from other teams. This has led to Perry leading the playoffs in points and Getzlaf to be close to a two points per game player in the six games so far. That is the kind of impact Ducks fans everywhere envisioned and its coming true.
Defense stepping up
I wrote about this prior to the Jets series and it’s a theme that must continue throughout the playoffs for the Ducks to hoist hockey’s ultimate prize. In the past the Ducks Achilles heel had always been a young inexperienced d-core. A D-core that would be in awe of NHL players. This D-core isn’t an awe of anyone and is in fact taking it to opposing teams. With Lindholm’s goal tonight the Ducks defensive core have one goal and six assists in the two games against the Flames so far. On top of that this group has been stout in areas other than the offensively.
Cam Fowler, Sami Vatanen, and Lindholm have been pushing the tempo, using their skating ability to escape the D zone and alleviate pressure, and are keeping pucks in at the blue line to create offense for the forward lines. Simon Despres, François Beauchemin, and Clayton Stoner have been throwing their weight around, clearing rebounds, and making opposing players pay. That kind of balance and chemistry has made the Ducks break-out look fluid, limit opponent’s chances, and have the defense chip in offensively. That combination of aspects all coming together in the playoffs just doesn’t win you multiple games it wins you multiple series. And if the Ducks d-core can continue to do that and then some the Ducks can go the distance.
The Great Dane
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In the five and a half games that Frederik Andersen played last spring there was some good and some bad. In his three games in Anaheim Andersen looked good making the saves he needed to get the Ducks wins. When the series switched venues Andersen looked notably shaky and rattled by the noise and big stage. Now he has opponents rattled who play him.
Andersen has played every minute of every game in the playoffs for the Ducks. After starting the year on fire, then losing the net to John Gibson due to injury and spotty play Andersen has roared back with a vengeance. He has been calm, cool and collected in the Ducks crease and even seems to have a swagger about him. He’s getting better and better with each game and giving the Ducks confidence while doing it. He stood tall even in the hostile environment that is Winnipeg and has the stats through six games to prove he’s ready and wants that Cup. 6-0-0 1.64 GAA .942 SV% and now his first career playoff shut-out. Andersen has been great and will continue to get better.
Game 3 preview:
The Ducks will now travel to Calgary for Games 3 & 4. The “C of Red” will be in full effect up there but the Ducks dealt with the Winnipeg “White-out” and took both games there. There’s no doubt that even after a Game 1 trouncing the Flames aren’t just going to roll over and give in.
The Ducks are half-way to a series win and they will need to bring it and then some to finish this off. There are no easy series this time of year and the Ducks must be ready. If they play like they did in Game 1 and for roughly 35-40 minutes in Game 2 the Ducks will be on to the Western Conference Finals!