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Which Team Is The Biggest Threat To The Anaheim Ducks Out West?

By Griffin Foster

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Apr 15, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; The Calgary Flames celebrate the win against the Vancouver Canucks after the third period in game one of the first round of the the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Arena. The Calgary Flames won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

Possible Round 2 Matchup: Calgary Flames

With the new NHL playoff format in effect, the Ducks know that beating Winnipeg in the opening round would mean playing either Calgary or Vancouver in the second round. So this means that if The Ducks and Flames are both victorious in round 1, the Calgary Flames are automatically a threat to the Ducks as the two teams would battle in the second round.

The Ducks had success against Calgary this season going 3-1-1 in the 5 meetings. The Flames gave the Ducks trouble in a couple of those games with their speed and ability to get offensive production from their talented defensemen. There is one thing that has hurt Calgary however. Norris trophy candidate Mark Giordano was having an un believable year until he went down with a season ending injury. The injury to Giordano was a setback but Calgary found a way to earn a playoff spot.

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    • Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau both appear to be on their way to having outstanding careers in the NHL but the duo has never played a minute of playoff hockey. However, speed kills and the young Calgary forwards have a ton of speed. It was apparent that in the Flames 6-3 victory over the Ducks that speed was certainly something that troubled the Duck defense. If the Flames can make their speed a focal point of their game plan, the Ducks could be in for a rough ride in a potential second round matchup.

    Goaltending is a question mark for the Flames. Former Duck goalie Jonas Hiller started 44 games this season for the Flames and put up some decent numbers. Despite regular season success throughout his career Hiller has never proven himself as a good playoff goaltender. Last season Hiller started 50 games for the Ducks but coach Bruce Boudreau didn’t display any confidence in Hiller and it showed. Boudreau gave rookie Frederik Andersen the start in game 1 of round 1 against Dallas.

    It could serve as motivation for Hiller if he gets to go against his former team, but with the loss of Giordano it is un likely that the Flames can give Hiller the support he needs to win a 7 game series. For the Ducks, peppering Hiller and getting everything to the net would be necessary to beat Calgary.

    If the Ducks and Flames do meet in the second round, “threat” might not be word to use. Calgary is talented but also very young and un experienced, they might just serve as more of a road block in the Ducks pursuit to reach the western conference finals. It is the playoffs however, and you can’t count out any team.

    Next: The Vancouver Canucks

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