Apr 16, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks right wing Corey Perry (10) and center Ryan Getzlaf (15) celebrate with teammates after a goal against the Dallas Stars in game one of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
First off, I’ve been incredibly busy over the past two weeks finishing up my senior year of college. Today is the first day of the last week of college classes for me. So I apologize for the lack of posts, but here are my Ducks-Stars series opinions.
Now onto the series between our Anaheim Ducks and Dallas Stars………….I don’t think I’m the only one who feared a Game 7 and was surprised to see the Ducks make an incredible comeback last night in Game 6. Before the series started, I pointed out the key matchup between our ‘twins’ and their twins.’ Let’s take a look at the play of the two pairs of twins by looking at their stat lines first.
Ryan Getzlaf – 5 GP 3 G 4 A 7 P +3 6 PIM
Corey Perry – 6 GP 2 G 5 A 7 P +3 15 PIM
Jamie Benn – 6 GP 4 G 1 A 5 P +1 4 PIM
Tyler Seguin – 6 GP 1 G 2 A 3 P +1 0 PIM
Apr 27, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) congratulates Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf (15) after the overtime period in game six of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. The Ducks defeated the Stars 5-4 and win the series 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
On stats alone, the Ducks’ twins were better. However, the Stars were able to get them off their game for chunks of the series. I think we all know the players for the Stars who were able to do that to them too, i.e. Ryan Garbutt, Antoine Roussel, Trevor Daley. In Anaheim wins, I don’t think there were many players that led the charge more than Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. The same could be said about Jamie Benn in Dallas’ wins as well. Just the mere fact that the Ducks won the series means the Ducks’ twins beat the Stars’ twins.
Benn and Seguin were undoubtedly very good in this series, though. Benn could impose his will out there on the ice most of the time. I thought Benn was arguably the best player in the series, along with both Getzy and Pears. Seguin certainly had his chances in this series, but despite tallying 25 shots on goal, his only goal was in Game 1. In what was the final game of the series, both Benn and Seguin were held in check, with Seguin registering the only point of the two, an assist on Cody Eakin‘s PPG. While Benn and Seguin were only able to muster 1 point, 3 shots on goal and a -1, Getzlaf and Perry were able to post 2 points (both assists from Perry), 7 shots on goal and be even. It may not be a huge difference, but they were more effective in Game 6 than Benn and Seguin.
So the decision goes to Getzy and Pears. A couple other things I’d like to say about the series begins with our twins and their composure. The Stars got under their skin big time in this series. It was nasty, physical and dirty. I know this is the playoffs and all, but I don’t think that’s the way the Ducks wanna play and if they want to keep advancing in these playoffs, then the entire team’s composure is going to have to be held together better. Also, the Ducks’ forecheck was very effective, when they really went at the Stars. It’s just they weren’t forechecking hard enough for most of the series. That should change as we get ready for the next series. Giveaways. Too many in our own zone. Too many in the neutral zone. The Kid Line of Rickard Rakell, Devante Smith-Pelly and Emerson Etem was arguably the most effective line for the Ducks in a couple of games late in the series. I’d like to see them stick together in the next round. Keep Teemu Selanne in the lineup. That healthy scratch was exactly what he needed. He was even chirping a little bit in Game 6……Finally, as much of a fan as I am of Frederik Andersen, he just doesn’t seem ready for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Jonas Hiller should be between the pipes for the second round.
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