The Anaheim Ducks stormed to a 1-0 lead in the Western Conference Final with a 4-1 victory over Chicago on Sunday. But they didn’t look all too impressive after being outplayed by the Blackhawks over stretches of time. Can Chicago take away the Ducks’ home ice advantage with a better effort in Game 2? Read on as we breakdown the action to come.
In the East, the Lightning drew even with the Rangers at Madison Square Garden to take a 1-1 tie into Tampa Bay. Check out our complete preview for the Rangers vs. Lightning Game 3.
[sc:NHLArticles ]Chicago Blackhawks vs. Anaheim Ducks Game 2 Preview
Series Scores and Schedule
Game 1 –Chicago Blackhawks 1 at Anaheim Ducks 4
Game 2 – May 19, 9:00 PM ET – Chicago Blackhawks (+105) at Anaheim Ducks (-125); total 5.0 – view all NHL lines
Game 3 – May 21, 8:00 PM ET – Anaheim Ducks at Chicago Blackhawks
Game 4 – May 23, 8:00 PM ET – Anaheim Ducks at Chicago Blackhawks
Game 5* – May 25, 9:00 PM ET – Chicago Blackhawks at Anaheim Ducks
Game 6* – May 27, 8:00 PM ET – Anaheim Ducks at Chicago Blackhawks
Game 7* – May 30, 8:00 PM ET – Chicago Blackhawks at Anaheim Ducks
*If necessary
Betting on the Chicago Blackhawks
Don’t let the 4-1 scoreline fool you. The Chicago Blackhawks played really well in their Game 1 loss. The Blackhawks outshot the Ducks 33-27 (including a dominant first period 16-7), committed just one penalty throughout the contest and were one goal away from tying the game until late in the third period.
[sc:NHL240 ]But the Blackhawks stars were completely shut down. Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa were all held pointless. Defenseman Duncan Keith, who had a plus/minus of 10 prior to the Western Conference Final, finished Game 1 with a minus-three.
Among the Blackhawks’ stars, getting Kane on the board is crucial for Chicago. The 2013 Conn Smythe winner had scored six goals, including two game winners, in five straight contests (all Chicago wins) prior to Game 1. Kane should find the open looks in this game if the Blackhawks remain as aggressive as they did in Game 1.
If the Blackhawks’ stars continue to struggle, they still have a secondary scorer in Brad Richards, who buried their lone tally in the first game of the series.
What could hurt Chicago is some sketchy goaltending by Corey Crawford. He posted a 1.75 GAA and .947 save percentage in a stellar conference semifinal sweep against Minnesota. But he allowed three goals on 26 shots against the Ducks, which look eerily similar to his 3.00 GAA and .850 save percentage in the first round against Nashville.
The Blackhawks have lost three of their last five road playoff games.
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Betting on the Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim’s mighty Ducks flexed their muscles against one of the best teams in the West in Chicago with solid goaltending and a punishing offense.
Frederik Andersen made 32 saves in Game 1, including a beautiful off-balance stick save on Kane. While Andersen’s 1.86 GAA and .930 save percentage are good but not the best of marks in the playoffs, they should be enough to keep Chicago in check if the Ducks continue firing on all cylinders.
Anaheim buried three goals on just 26 shots against Crawford. The Ducks are now converting 9.8 percent of their shots on goal at even strength, the best mark in the playoffs. Anaheim’s 3.9 goals per game is also tops among all playoff teams.
The fact that Ryan Getzlaf had just one assist, while Corey Perry was left pointless makes the Ducks’ Game 1 scoring even more impressive. Offense from secondary players is crucial in playoff hockey. Anaheim has Hampus Lindholm, Nate Thompson, Jakob Silfverberg and Kyle Palmieri, who all had a goal in Game 1, to provide scoring chances if Getzlaf and Perry are contained.
But the Ducks’ high-scoring duo is too talented to contain for long. Perry leads the postseason with 15 points, while Getzlaf leads with 11 assists.
It’s not all offense that drives these Ducks to success. The line of Ryan Kesler, Silfverberg and Matt Beleskey did an amazing job in holding Chicago’s first line of Toews, Hossa and Brandon Saad pointless in Game 1.
The Ducks have won all six of their playoff games on home ice.
Writer’s Prediction
Anaheim (-125) puts on a furious pace to take a 2-0 series lead to Chicago.
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