Pages

Monday, April 17, 2017

{allcanada} 5 Keys: Ducks at Flames, Game 3

 

DUCKS at FLAMES

10 p.m. ET; CBC, TVA Sports 2, NBCSN, PRIME

Anaheim leads best-of-7 series 2-0

 

CALGARY -- The Anaheim Ducks will look to take a 3-0 lead in their Western Conference First Round series against the Calgary Flames on Monday.

After winning Games 1 and 2 at Honda Center, Anaheim pushed its home winning streak against Calgary to 29 games. The Ducks have won 22 straight in the regular season and seven in a row in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since a 5-2 loss on April 25, 2006 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

They'll look to take that home momentum on the road with the series shifting to Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary.

Here are 5 keys for Game 3:

 

1. Dome-ice advantage

The Flames are back at the Saddledome for Games 3 and 4, where they were 24-17-0 in the regular season.

"It's exciting," forward Johnny Gaudreau said. "It's something we talk about throughout the whole season is how exciting it is to play here and how fun it is to play in front of the fans here. It's an understatement to say that we're pretty jacked up to play here tonight."

 

2. Ducks strike quickly

The Ducks scored 52 seconds into Game 1 and 3:21 into Game 2. Anaheim is seeking another quick start on the road to try and neutralize the home crowd.

"The plan is to obviously want a good start," forward Andrew Cogliano said. "If anything you want to negate some of their energy. That's what every road team tries to do when they go into a building like this. Scoring a goal early is obviously something you want, but it's more just to establish our game early."

 

3. Vatanen's status

Ducks defenseman Sami Vatanen, who had 24 points (three goals, 21 assists) in 71 regular-season games, was a late scratch for Game 2 because of an upper-body injury but participated in the morning skate Monday.

"I thought he looked pretty well," coach Randy Carlyle said. "We'll have a conversation with the training staff and we'll see where he's at. We're not going to put people in situations that they cannot have success at.

"Ultimately it'll be the player's decision whether he's ready to play or not, because we know it's going to be physical. We know it's going to be ruckus. All those things are things we take into consideration before we even put the question to the player."

 

4. Discipline, again

The Ducks scored two power-play goals in seven opportunities in Game 1, and Ryan Getzlaf scored the winning goal in Game 2 on the power play with 4:46 remaining in the third period after Flames defenseman Dougie Hamilton was called for holding Corey Perry's stick at 14:33. Calgary defenseman TJ Brodie also took a penalty when he crosschecked Ryan Kesler at 17:22.

The lapses have the Flames preaching the importance of patience yet again.

"We have to just keep playing fast between the whistles," captain Mark Giordano said. "All the stuff after the whistles and all that, that doesn't help our side at all. It doesn't do anything."

 

5. Getzlaf leading the way

Getzlaf has four points (two goals, two assists) in two games. He was named first star of Games 1 and 2.

"When he plays like he can he can be a player that you just can't stop," Cogliano said. "I'm not saying that as just his teammate. He's our best player and our captain. We expect that from him. In order for us to do anything in playoff situations he has to be the best player and we hope that continues."

 

Ducks projected lineup

Rickard Rakell -- Ryan Getzlaf -- Patrick Eaves

Andrew Cogliano -- Ryan Kesler -- Jakob Silfverberg

Nick Ritchie -- Antoine Vermette -- Corey Perry

Chris Wagner -- Nate Thompson -- Logan Shaw

Hampus Lindholm -- Brandon Montour

Shea Theodore -- Kevin Bieksa

Korbinian Holzer -- Josh Manson

John Gibson

Jonathan Bernier

Scratched: Jared Boll, Clayton Stoner, Ondrej Kase

Injured: Cam Fowler (lower body), Sami Vatanen (upper body)

 

Flames projected lineup

Johnny Gaudreau -- Sean Monahan -- Micheal Ferland

Matthew Tkachuk -- Mikael Backlund -- Michael Frolik

Kris Versteeg -- Sam Bennett -- Alex Chiasson

Lance Bouma -- Matt Stajan -- Troy Brouwer

Mark Giordano -- Dougie Hamilton

TJ Brodie -- Michael Stone

Matt Bartkowski -- Deryk Engelland

Brian Elliott

Chad Johnson

Scratched: Curtis Lazar, Freddie Hamilton, Dennis Wideman, Jon Gillies

Injured: None

 

Status report

Vatanen was paired with Stoner at the morning skate. ... Fowler skated for the first time since injuring his knee against Calgary on April 4. … The Ducks recalled Kase from San Diego of the American Hockey League on Sunday. … The Flames are expected to use the same lineup from Games 1 and 2.

 

Who's hot

Gibson has a 2.00 goals-against average and .942 save percentage in two starts. … Silfverberg has three points in two games (two goals, one assist). … Theodore has three assists in two games. … Monahan has two power-play goals in the series. … Versteeg has two assists in two games.

 

Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://almosthuman99.com

Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/babes/babeofthemonth.html

Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/hunks/hunkofthemonth.html

No comments:

Post a Comment