Anaheim Ducks vs. Calgary Flames Predictions, Picks and Preview – 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Western Conference First Round Game Four – April 19, 2017
With yet another escape, the Ducks are continuing to break hearts in Calgary. It’s actually even worse than the previous games, as they overcame being three goals down in the second period to win an overtime thriller, 5-4. The victory moves them up to a commanding three-zip series lead.
Corey Perry, who was playing in his 100th Stanley Cup playoff game, played the hero role for Anaheim. His banker just 90 seconds into OT capped off the team’s huge comeback.
The 31-year-old, of course, isn’t alone in sharing the glory of the win. It’s cliché and all, but it was simply a good team effort. Shea Theodore had two goals, while Nick Ritchie and Nate Thompson had one goal each, with the latter also dishing out a pair of assists. Additionally, Rickard Rakell, Kevin Bieksa, and Hampus Lindholm all had one assist apiece.
As for the defense, it came alive just in time. John Gibson was blasted with four goals in just 16 shots, but veteran Jonathan Bernier stepped in and was able to pick up the slack, as he walled the Flames’ next 16 attempts.
The Ducks are flat out clicking, both offensively and defensively, and it’s an easy pick to have them close the series out on Wednesday. In the three playoff games, four guys have two goals each, and six guys have three or more points.
The Flames simply burned themselves in Game 3. They were in control, up 4-1 with under 30 minutes to go, and they still failed to secure a win. It’s obviously a demoralizing collapse, and this 0-3 deficit that they will try to climb out of isn’t just a hole, it’s a quicksand.
There’s still hope, though, regardless of how little it is.
In trying to be the fifth team in NHL history to rise from a tough challenge, we can expect Sean Monahan to lead the way. He’s been a consistent offensive weapon, scoring one goal in each of the series’ three games, while also contributing one assist.
Hopefully joining the fourth-year centre are number two scorer Mikael Branlund, TJ Brodie, who has four assists in this postseason, and Sam Bennett, who chipped one goal in Games 1 and 3.
What should top all of that, of course, is Brian Elliot playing better. He had a pretty decent debut season with Calgary, but this series has been quite the struggle, as he has allowed 11 goals in 97 shots (.887 save percentage).
