2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Series Review: (P1) Anaheim Ducks vs. (W2) Winnipeg Jets

Going into the series, it was expected to be a hard-fought, black-and-blue series. It did not disappoint when it came to the hits, as the short series saw both teams combined for 349 hits. What the series did lack was longevity. Winnipeg was expected to give Anaheim a run for its money, and were able to do so until the third period. The first three games saw the Jets lead going into the third, and all three games saw the Ducks come back to win. It's not something that can be easily blamed on the Jets goaltending, as Ondrej Pavelec was good during the series, making some big saves in the process. The Ducks ability to move the puck and create a lot of backdoor opportunities, which help them beat the Jets in four games.

Games

Winnipeg Jets 2 - Anaheim Ducks 4

Anaheim would strike first, thanks to a Sami Vatanen point shot that beat a screened Pavelec. It didn't take long for Winnipeg to respond, as Adam Lowry redirected a pass from Jacob Trouba past Frederik Andersen to tie the game. The physicality picked up thereafter, as both teams combined for 39 hits in the period. Drew Stafford would give the Jets the lead in the second, skating from his zone to the faceoff circle in the Ducks zone then snapping it past Andersen. It was almost 3-1 for the Jets, as they had another odd-man rush soon after, but Andersen would make the cross-crease save to keep the score at 2-1. The Ducks would respond with a powerplay goal early in the third, as Corey Perry put home a loose puck beside the net to tie the game. Perry would put the Ducks in the lead later on, as a drive to the net ended with him poking in his own rebound. It initially looked like Pavelec made the toe save, but after a review it was determined that the puck crossed the line clear enough to count. Ryan Getzlaf would add an insurance goal on a powerplay. Anaheim's 4-2 win gave them a 1-0 series lead.

Winnipeg Jets 1 - Anaheim Ducks 2

The Ducks were more prevalent in the first, outshooting the Jets 17-9 and having a couple good chances on the powerplay, yet the game remained scoreless. Adam Pardy would finally break the tie in the second, scoring on a wraparound. The goal was under question at first, as Lee Stempniak was shoved into the net and made contact with Andersen on his attempt to get out of the way. The goal would stand after a discussion by the refs. Anaheim had a couple of chances in the first half of the third, but could not solve Pavelec. The Ducks would need a powerplay to finally tie the game, as Patrick Maroon tipped a Cam Fowler point shot to put Anaheim on the board. The game looked to be heading to overtime, until Jakob Silfverberg said "no thanks", stepped out from under the goal line, and beat Pavelec to give the Ducks with 19 seconds left. That goal stood as the winner, as the Ducks won the game and extended their series lead to two games.

Anaheim Ducks 5 - Winnipeg Jets 4 (OT)

It was the first playoff game in Winnipeg in nearly two decades, and it showed, as the fans were deafening. They would be rewarded midway though the first, as Lowry tipped a rebound to Stempniak, who put the puck in the yawning cage. The Jets had a couple of opportunities to go up 2-0, but fail to put the puck in the net. Instead, it was the Ducks who had the next goal. Fowler would corral a loose puck in the offensive zone and snap it past Pavelec with just seven seconds left in the period. Early in the second it was the Ducks who had a couple of chances to take the lead, but Pavelec managed to stop their attempts. Perry did find a way past Pavelec, sweeping a pass from Hampus Lindholm into the net. The celebration was short-lived though, as Dustin Byfuglien punched Perry from behind, earning himself a trip to the penalty box for doing so. Just before that penalty ended, the Ducks would take a too many men penalty. The Jets would take advantage of the Ducks mistake, as a Tyler Myers wrist shot would find its way past Andersen. Blake Wheeler would score minutes later to put the Jets back in the lead. The bodies would start flying, as both teams had a couple of huge hits. The Ducks would tie the game once again, as Silfverberg received a pass in the slot and snapped it pass Pavelec. The Jets would come back with a couple of odd-man rushes, but could not do much with them. Just under two minutes left in the period, Bryan Little would pick off a pass in the high slot and blast the puck into the net to once again put the Jets in the lead. Both teams would have chances in the third, but could not make good on them. The Ducks would tie the game late in the third, as Ryan Kesler buried a backdoor pass. Vatanen would get a delay of game penalty with just under two minutes left in regulation. Try as they might, the Jets could not beat Andersen. This game need overtime to determine a winner. Just over five minutes into the extra frame, Rickard Rakell would redirect Francois Beauchemin's point shot past Pavelec. The goal gave Anahiem another win and pushed Winnipeg to the brink of elimination.

Anaheim Ducks 5 - Winnipeg Jets 2

Winnipeg had their backs against the wall, as a loss would end their playoffs. Little would get the home side on the board in the first, beating Andersen high glove to give the Jets a 1-0 lead. That lead was short-lived though, as Emerson Etem scored a spectacular goal a minute and a half later to tie the game. A three-prong attack in the second would give the Ducks the lead. First, Lindholm carried the puck into the attacking zone and dropped it to Perry. Perry dangled past a defender and passed to Andrew Cogliano, who finished off with a one-timer beside the net. The Ducks extended the lead in the third. A three-on-one saw Pavelec stop the initial shot by Simon Despres, but left a rebound for Ryan Kesler, who tapped it in to put the Ducks up by two. The Jets responded minutes later, as Mark Stuart's point shot would bounce off Andersen's blocker and into the net. The Jets tried, but could not find the tying goal. Kesler would score to complete his hat trick, and Vatanen added an empty netter. The Ducks finished off the Jets with a 5-2 win, and are moving on to Round 2.

Three Thoughts on the Series

1. STILL THE THRASH-ERS clap clap clap-clap-clap
2. It does suck that the Jets, who in the first 3 games lead heading into the third period, could not close out 1 of those games.
3. On the other hand, shame on you Jets for not winning at least one game, and making us all wait until October to see Nikolaj Ehlers' NHL debut (I'll miss watching you in person Nik).

Picture of the Series

Look, I get the love affair with Jets fans and (sans Katy Perry chant) they were pretty good in the series. This though, this is really too much.

Highlight of the Series

What a goal by Emerson Etem.