The table for the NHL Western Conference Finals is all set with the Anaheim Ducks battling the Chicago Blackhawks in what should be a highly entertaining and action-packed series. The Ducks needed just five games to dispose the Calgary Flames in the second round. The Chicago Blackhawks, meanwhile, advanced to the conference finals thanks to a sweep of the Minnesota Wild.
So what should we expect from this series? Below are the breakdowns of four keys in this matchup, from offense to defense down to the special teams. You can also click here for our Game 1 preview of this series.
[sc:NHLArticles ]Anaheim Ducks vs. Chicago Blackhawks Series Preview
Offense
[sc:NHL240 ]The star power on offense in this series is jaw dropping to say the least. Anaheim, which is priced +225 to win the Stanley Cup this year, features a top line that has the all-star pair of Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Chicago (+200 to win the Cup), on the other hand, has a top line that boasts of Brandon Saad, Jonathan Toews, and Marian Hossa.
All those guys can flat out score. Perry currently leads the postseason in points (15). Not far behind is Getzlaf, who has 12 points on two goals and 10 assists. As for Chicago’s top line, it has eight goals thus far in this postseason, led by Toews’ four scores. The offensive brilliance of both teams, however, doesn’t stop there. Their second lines are arguably just as effective as their top lines.
Anaheim’s second line has risen to the occasion in this postseason with Matt Beleskey, Ryan Kesler, and Jakob Silfverberg each contributing well on offense. After going scoreless in the Winnipeg series, Beleskey erupted for five goals in next round against Calgary, netting a goal in each of the series’ five games. Kesler has scored four goals through two rounds of these playoffs.
Then there’s Silfverberg, who has 11 points, the fifth most by a skater this postseason. These three players will have to sustain their solid performances to help soften the impact of Chicago’s own second line led by Patrick Kane.
Kane has been an unstoppable force for Chicago, especially during the second round. Against Minnesota, Kane made Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk look helpless, as the right-winger scored six of his seven total playoff goals in that series. Kane’s line mates, Bryan Bickell and Brad Richards, should do more, however, as they’ve combined for just a goal (with seven assists) this postseason.
Defensemen
Anaheim is ranked fourth among all playoff teams in terms of defense with two goals allowed per game. That’s a very good mark for a team that has used just one goalie in Frederik Andersen thus far this postseason. Andersen has been dependable between the pipes for Anaheim, but the team’s success on defense can also be largely attributed to the Ducks’ defensemen.
Take for example the tandem of Hampus Lindholm and Francois Beauchemin, who are a combined plus-four. Even better, however, is the pair of Cam Fowler and partner Simon Despres, which is plus-13 this postseason. Anaheim’s opponents average just 26.6 shots on goal, the fewest allowed by any team that’s still playing in these playoffs.
Chicago, meanwhile, will play the conference final minus defenseman Michal Rozsival, who suffered a nasty season-ending ankle injury in the Minnesota series. That being said, Chicago’s defensemen corps still looks capable with Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Johnny Oduya all likely to see increased time on ice to compensate for Rozsival’s absence.
Goalies
Let’s begin with Ducks goalie, Andersen, who’s been having a phenomenal postseason. Thus far in these playoffs, Andersen has collected an 8-1 record and a .925 save percentage. He’s allowed more than two goals in just two of nine games this postseason, which explains his fantastic 1.96 GAA.
Andersen, though, can expect to be tested heavily by Chicago’s offense that is much more aggressive and talented than the teams he’s faced in the two previous series.
Unlike Andersen, Chicago’s no. 1 goalie Corey Crawford has split his starts with Scott Darling this postseason, specifically in the first round. In the Nashville series, Crawford was anything but superb, as he allowed nine goals in his first two starts. That swung the door open for Darling, who finished the round with a 3-1 record in four starts along with a 2.22 GAA and .936 SV%.
But if Crawford plays as well as he did in the Minnesota series, wherein he went 4-0 with a 1.75 GAA and .947 SV%, then Darling will likely be glued to the bench for most of the conference final.
Special teams
Both teams’ special teams may just be the deciding factor for which among them will advance to the Stanley Cup final. As shown in its series win against Calgary, Anaheim is a lethal team on the power play. The Ducks, in fact, are the best among all teams that made the postseason in power play conversion with a 31% success rate.
They scored six PP goals in 16 opportunities against Calgary. With terrific two-way forwards and a dependable core of defensemen, the Ducks have also managed to become nearly as impressive in killing penalties. They are fifth overall this postseason with an 87.1 penalty kill percentage.
Anaheim’s power play game must be a point of emphasis for Chicago’s special teams. Chicago’s penalty kill has been underwhelming this postseason, as the Blackhawks have allowed their playoff opponents to score 72.7 of the time on the man advantage. That’s good for only 12th among all teams in these playoffs.
Where the Blackhawks’ special teams are having some measure of success is on the power play. They enter the conference final fifth in the playoffs with a 20 PP%. They’ve scored on the power play in each of their last two games.
Writer’s Prediction
Chicago wins the series in six games.
Create a betting account now and make picks before Game 1 of this series begins. Both the Blackhawks and the Ducks are priced -115 to win their NHL Western Conference Final matchup.
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