2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Series Review: (P1) Anaheim Ducks vs. (P3) Calgary Flames

It was Anaheim's series to lose, and they did not disappoint. The Ducks dominated the Flames most of the series, only once not outshooting the Flames (and even then, the shots were tied). The first game was what was expected in the series, as Anaheim dominated Calgary in the 6-1 win. To the Flames credit, they hung on and battled in the series. Unfortunately, it only ended up in one win for Calgary (at least it was a home win), as Anaheim was too dominate. Matt Beleskey was the standout in the series, scoring a goal in every game. Anaheim made short work of Calgary, eliminating them in five games. The Ducks move on the Western Conference Final.

Games

Calgary Flames 1 - Anaheim Ducks 6

The Flames had an opportunity very early, as Josh Jooris found himself on a breakaway. His shot was stopped, as Frederik Andersen made a routine butterfly save. The Ducks opened the scoring midway through the first on what looked like a set play. Hampus Lindholm's shot was (purposely?) wide of the net. Kyle Palmieri was in position to collect the puck and passed it to an open Beleskey, who proceeded to shot the puck into the net. Anaheim added another goal three minutes later, as Patrick Maroon redirected Ryan Getzlaf's pass past Jonas Hiller. The Ducks continued to score in the second. Early in the period, Corey Perry stepped out from behind the net and beat Hiller far side. That was it for Hiller, as Karri Ramo came in to tender the Flames net. Anaheim extended their lead even more midway through the second. Francois Beauchemin's point shot was stopped by Ramo, but the rebound went into the slot, where Emerson Etem wasted no time shooting it into the back of the net. The closest the Flames got to a goal that period ended up being from a long shot by Derek Engelland. His shot from near centre ice squeezed by Andersen, but Andersen reached back and covered the puck before it reached the goal line. A goalie interference penalty by Drew Shore put the Flames down a man for the rest of the second and some of the third. 44 seconds into the third (and with 6 seconds left in the powerplay) Corey Perry scored is second of the game. Penalty trouble continued for the Flames, as less than a minute later, Brandon Bollig was sent to the box. The Ducks struck again on the man advantage, as Getzlaf finished off a pass from Sami Vatanen. The Flames finally had an answer for Andersen, as Sam Bennett snapped a loose puck past Andersen's glove. That was the only goal Calgary could muster. Anaheim took Game 1 6-1, taking the lead in the series as a result.

Calgary Flames 0 - Anaheim Ducks 3

Anaheim was all over Calgary in the first period. It resulted in an early chance for the Ducks, but Getzlaf's shot was stopped by a sliding Ramo. Anaheim did find the back of the net seven minutes in, as Ryan Kesler's pass went over two Calgary sticks and right to Beleskey, who one-timed the puck past Ramo. That was the lone goal in the period, as the Ducks outshot the Flames 20-9 in the first. Calgary came out firing in the second, but could not beat Andersen. Play evened up later in the period, but the score remained the same, as the Ducks were still up 1-0 after 40 minutes. Calgary again looked for a tying goal early in the third, but was unsuccessful. Midway through the final frame, the Ducks extended their lead. Lindholm took a pass from Corey Perry and shot it over Ramo's shoulder. Nate Thompson added an empty netter to seal the game. The Game 2 win put Anaheim ahead 2-0 in the series.

Anaheim Ducks 3 - Calgary Flames 4 (OT)

The Flames struck early in this game thanks to the unlikeliest of players. Bollig received a pass from Mason Raymond and snapped it past Andersen, putting the Flames up 1-0. The Ducks scored minutes later, as Getzlaf connected with Maroon to tie the game. Later in the period, Getzlaf caused a turnover in the Flames zone. Unable to get a shot off, Simon Despres collected the puck and went around the net. His pass out to the slot deflected off Perry's skate and into the net. A review concluded the goal was good, as Anaheim took a 2-1 lead. Both teams would get powerplays in the first, with Calgary's coming 50 seconds in while Anaheim waited until the three minute mark for theirs. On Anaheim's powerplay, Lindholm would loose his footing while receiving a pass. That gave Joe Colborne the opportunity to take the puck and go on a breakaway. He deked out Andersen and slid the puck into the net, tying the game. The tie lasted four minutes, as Beleskey scored to put Anaheim back in the lead. Calgary poured it on in the third, looking for the tying goal. They looked to have it with six minutes left, as Sam Bennett tried to beat Andersen's right pad. It was initially called no goal, as it looked like Andersen's pad made the save right before the puck fully crossed the line. The play was reviewed, but replays were inconclusive. The initial call stood, as Flames fans everywhere were sent into deja vu. Unlike 2004, there was redemption for the Flames. A 4-on-4 turned into a 4-on-3, as Sami Vatanen batted the puck out of play. The Flames pulled their goalie, making it a 5-on-3. With 22 seconds left, Johnny Gaudreau shot it over Andersen's shoulder and into the net, tying the game for good. Regulation ended 3-3, as overtime was needed to solve the game. A delayed penalty for the Ducks minutes in allowed the Flames to get an extra attacker on the ice. Mikael Backlund wound up ending it on the 6-on-5, beating a screened Andersen from above the slot. This was Calgary's first win of the series, and help them pull to within a game of Anaheim.

Anaheim Ducks 4 - Calgary Flames 2

An early powerplay gave the Ducks the chance to take the lead, and they did. Jakob Silfverberg's shot went over Ramo's shoulder and into the net. It wasn't long until the Flames responded. Gaudreau went past a couple of Ducks defenders and got a shot on net. Andersen made the save, but Sean Monahan was right there to put the rebound home. Just a minute later, Micheal Ferland went in and blasted on past Andersen, giving the Flames the lead. Both teams had chances early in the second, but were stopped. Anaheim struck late in the period. Andrew Cogliano poked the puck from Gaudreau. It went right to Palmieri, who passed it right back to Cogliano. Cogliano's shot beat Ramo's blocker, tying game. At the end of the period, Colborne was caught high sticking Beauchemin, and received a double minor. Anaheim capitalized on the man advantage in the third, as Beleskey put home a rebound to give the Ducks the lead. A comeback was not in Calgary's cards this time. Patrick Maroon scored an empty net goal to seal the game. Anaheim's win put them up 3-1 in the series, pushing Calgary closer to elimination.

Calgary Flames 2 - Anaheim Ducks 3 (OT)

It was 4-on-4 early on in the game, as Engelland and Maroon were both sent to the box for roughing. Anaheim almost scored on the 4-on-4, but Dennis Wideman was there to stop Cam Fowler's wrap around attempt. The Flames were first to strike, thanks to a powerplay opportunity. Jiri Hudler blasted one past Andersen, putting the Flames up 1-0. It wasn't until the second when Anaheim responded, and just like Calgary, it was done on a powerplay. Silfverberg found a streaking Kesler, who proceeded to one-time the puck past Ramo. The tie lasted a minute, as Gaudreau fired one past Andersen's glove to put the Flames back in the lead. There was a scary moment later in the period, as Matt Stajan cut up ice, hitting Perry's knee during the turn. Perry managed to get off the ice and down the tunnel. Despite how bad the knee looked during the hit, Perry did return to the game. Just like last game, a penalty at the end of the second hurt Calgary in the third. Anaheim scored 55 seconds into the period (and the powerplay), as Beauchemin's point shot was tipped by Beleskey and found the back of the net. Anaheim continued the pressure, as they were determined to put Calgary away for good. The Flames did managed to get a 2-on-1 with seconds left in the period, but Stajan's backhand was stopped by Andersen. Overtime was needed, and it was all Ducks in the extra frame. Ramo make a couple of great saves early to keep Calgary in the game. Anaheim did find a way to beat him though, as 2:26 in Corey Perry whacked a loose puck past a sprawling Ramo. The goal won the game for the Ducks. Anaheim won the series 4-1, eliminating Calgary in five games.

Five Thoughts on the Series

1. Too bad Mark Giordano did not recover in time to play.
2. The Sam Bennett no-goal was in.
3. I kinda think Stajan clipped Perry intentionally, but didn't mean to get him that much. Was probably looking just to bump Perry.
4. Beleskey was just raking in the goals this series. He'll make bank in free agency.
5. Great to see Bruce Boudreau finally reach a Conference Final.

Picture of the Series

Sam Gelinas.

Highlight of the Series

Joe Colborne's shorthanded goal was pretty nice.