January 30, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks center
Rickard Rakell(67) scores a goal against Chicago Blackhawks goalie
Corey Crawford(50) during the third period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Nervous about the Ducks’ third-round match-up? We give you reason to sleep at night!
When the Anaheim Ducks take the ice for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals Sunday afternoon, they will be opposite the one team in the West that should make Ducks fans everywhere nervous.
Aside from the San Jose Sharks, who didn’t qualify for the playoffs this year, the Chicago Blackhawks were the only team in the Western Conference to win the series against Anaheim, finishing 2-1 with a pair of 4-1 victories over Ryan Getzlaf and company.
As much as we all discussed whether the Winnipeg Jets could pose the largest threat to Anaheim’s quest to lift Lord Stanley’s Cup, we’ve all known that Chicago was the monster hiding in the Ducks’ closet all along. After all, the Blackhawks have Patrick Kane (7-6-13) and Jonathan Toews (4-7-11) to counter Getzlaf and Corey Perry, skate perennial Norris Trophy finalist Duncan Keith 30+ minutes per game, and have an experienced and under-rated netminder in Corey Crawford pushing pucks to the boards.
In short, there’s a reason why the Blackhawks currently have the best odds to win the Stanley Cup (along with Anaheim), and there’s a reason why everywhere I turn, the ‘Hawks are being picked to win this series, usually in six games.
Still, the Ducks are not chopped liver. They have taken care of business to the tune of an 8-1 record this postseason – best in the NHL. If Anaheim fans should be worried about Chicago, so too should Chicago fans be worried about Anaheim. I don’t mind swimming upstream, so I’ll ignore the experts and their confidence in the ‘Hawks and give you three reasons why the Ducks will represent the Western Conference in the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals.
Next: Getzlaf and Perry: Best 1-2 Punch in Hockey Right Now