Up to snuff on Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals! You will be!
It’s game day, people!
The Anaheim Ducks try to take a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference Semifinals against the Calgary Flames tonight, and we all know how important that lead would be – don’t we?
Per @EliasSports: Teams that go up 2-0 in a best-of-seven #StanleyCup Playoffs series hold an all-time series record of 293-48 (85.9%).
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 18, 2015
Pretty sure I told all of you that back when the Ducks were looking to take a similar lead against the Winnipeg Jets – pay attention!
If you watched Game 1 and the manner in which the Ducks absolutely dominated the Flames, I’ll forgive you if you assume that Game 2 will be easily won by Anaheim. For starters, the Flames are expected to have both Jiri Hudler, who missed most of the second and third periods, and Michael Ferland in the starting lineup tonight:
Exhale Calgary, #Flames forwards Micheal Ferland and Jiri Hudler are both on ice for morning skate in Anaheim.
— Wes Gilbertson (@WesGilbertson) May 3, 2015
"I'm ready to go." - Ferland pic.twitter.com/6oUxRzurcC
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) May 3, 2015
Hudler was Calgary’s leading scorer this season (31-45-76) and has scored the most goals (3) for the Flames during the postseason. His presence alone makes the Flames a far more serious threat. Toss in the return of Ferland, one of those high-energy, wrecking ball type players who can make life more difficult for the Ducks, and we’ve got a game!
Tonight’s Lines
No real surprises here:
Calgary
Johnny Gaudreau-Sean Monahan–Jiri Hudler
Sam Bennett–Mikael Backlund–Joe Colborne
Brandon Bollig–Josh Jooris–Drew Shore
Micheal Ferland–Matt Stajan–David Jones
Deryk Engelland-TJ Brodie
Kris Russell–Dennis Wideman
Tyler Wotherspoon–David Schlemko
Anaheim
Patrick Maroon–Ryan Getzlaf–Corey Perry
Matt Beleskey–Ryan Kesler–Jakob Silfverberg
Andrew Cogliano–Rickard Rakell–Kyle Palmieri
Emerson Etem–Nate Thompson–Tim Jackman
Hampus Lindholm–Francois Beauchemin
Cam Fowler–Simon Despres
Clayton Stoner–Sami Vatanen
Key to an Anaheim Ducks’ victory tonight
The way Corey Perry has been playing this postseason, it’s easy to say that the Ducks are going to live and die off of Perry’s stick. However, it wasn’t just Perry terrorizing the Flames Thursday night: the entire line of Perry-Getzlaf-Maroon tallied 9 points (4-5-9) on the evening.
I know Hudler was banged up, but honestly I don’t see how Calgary’s top line can handle the three-headed monster that Anaheim is going to cram down their throats. Winnipeg was able to neutralize the Ducks’ top line somewhat (especially Getzlaf, who had an okay-but-not-great first round), but in this series, Anaheim’s top line should impose its will nightly.
My Pick: the game might be a little tighter tonight, but there still won’t be much in the way of late-game drama. Ducks win, 4-2.
Tonight’s game is set to start at 10/7p on CNBC. What?!? Yep! Follow us @pucksofafeather – let’s have a good time!
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