It doesn't get much more dramatic than what the Kings did in the first round.
A reverse sweep, a 0-3 series comeback, whatever you want to call it, it doesn't get crazier than that.
While not as dramatic certainly, now the Kings move into further unknown territory: A series against the Anaheim Ducks.
With the Ducks being founded in 1993, the two teams have never met in the postseason. While we as fans are supposed to be engrossed in this heated rivalry due to locational similarity, quite frankly there hasn't been much to be rivals about. Ducks fans don't like Dustin Brown. Kings fans don't like Corey Perry. The Ducks had a cup to rub in LA fans faces for a while, and now the Kings have one to match it. None of this really constitutes as a rivalry, more like status quo of hockey fan chirping.
But now...this is going to be different.
The two teams meet in the midst of organizational success, and a spot in the Western Conference Finals awaits the winner.
I can't think of a better time for the two teams to meet and for the two fanbases to really get some kind of history between them.
The series itself should be a decent one, but I do question how competitive it might actually be. I say this in as much a stance of neutrality as I can. My Prediction...
Kings in 5, maybe 6.
And here's why: Goaltending.
When you look at the season series and how those games transpired there was one defining element, and it was the goaltending of the Anaheim Ducks. I know this isn't the season series, and that is long gone. However, when you look at how the teams matched up stylistically and how the possession stats played out, the Kings dominated the right of play in almost every game.
When I asked the question towards the end of the season on if fans would rather plays the Sharks or the Ducks, the results came back overwhelmingly in favor of the Ducks. In that article there were some pretty ridiculous stats in favor of the Kings. It bears checking out again if you missed it the first time.
Here was one of the more interesting statistics I brought up. (Mind you these numbers don't include the final game of the season)
Despite a rather dismal record, the Kings have actually played very good games against the Ducks but have been thwarted by the classic problem of not being able to finish chances. In fact, the four games the Kings have played against the Ducks rank inside the top 20 of of the season in terms of corsi and possession numbers. (6th, 8th, 12th, 17th).They have also destroyed the Ducks in shots during those games. The Ducks have only broken 21 shots once against the Kings. The averages are as different as night and day. Really. It's startling. The Ducks have allowed 37.5 shots a night on average against the Kings while putting up only 22.5 of their own.
So how did the Ducks win those games? Hiller and Andersen were absolutely outstanding. How has Andersen been in the playoffs so far? Pretty awful. The 24-year old rookie goaltender for the Ducks is currently sitting on a .892 save percentage and a goals against of 3.40. He was also yanked in two of the six games the Ducks played against Dallas.
I feel as though goaltending is going to be a major hinging point in this series, and at the end of the day Quick is head and shoulders above Andersen and Hiller. Quick will need his defense to help deal with the tremendous speed the Ducks play with though, and that too could be a major factor in the series. At this point, media outlets are indicating it will be Jonas Hiller getting the call. He has yet to start a game in these playoffs.
General consensus is that it is likely Hiller - for what it is worth
— lisa dillman (@reallisa) May 3, 2014Here is the second thing that gets me thinking the Kings in 5/6: Physicality. The Ducks don't play a very physical game. You can see that when you look at the total hits through the playoffs so far. The Kings have notched 329 total hits to lead all teams in the postseason. The Ducks have 219, and are 9th out of the 16 playoff teams.
They play a speed game, they don't play a slow game. While it's great for one game at a time, I just don't see it ending positively for Anaheim when they have to be subjected to the size, strength and physicality of the Kings team over the course of 7 games. When you look at the Anaheim roster versus the Kings roster, the Ducks are going to be dressing seven players 6'0 and under, and 10 players at or under 200 pounds. The Kings will be dressing just three under 6'0 and fives players under 200 pounds. Pound for pound the Kings are a massive team compared to the Ducks. No doubt Anaheim are going to be looking at some of their bigger players like Devante Smith-Pelley (who despite being 6'0 clocks in at a blockish 225), Patrick Maroon, Bryan Allen, and of course Getzlaf and Perry to eat and reciprocate some of the physical play. They will also be looking at Bonino, Selanne, Koivu, and the aforementioned Maroon and Smith-Pelley to chip in goals for some much needed secondary scoring.
While a speed game is the exact opposite of the heavy-hitting game, I just don't see the Ducks being able to sustain it throughout the course of this series. This of course is just my opinion, and I could be very wrong. Despite the outcome of the series, I think it's going to be very interesting to watch the two contrasting styles clash. The Ducks had to play a similar run-and-gun team in the first round with Dallas, but this is going to be a whole different animal. As a fan of the game, watching Boudreau and Sutter duke it out tactically is going to be the equivalent of a Federer-Nadal match. You can't get much different.
Kings in 5/6. They might steal two, but they won't come close to 4.
I'll accept all hate mail and angry tweets from Ducks fans @SirJDL.
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As long as I am doing predictions, I'll go ahead and give the rest. I went 6 for 8 in the first round which wasn't bad. I also only missed game counts on, I believe, two of the six series I predicted. Tampa Bay and Colorado let me down, but that's what I get for going with youth over experience.
Western Conference
Minnesota v. Chicago
Chicago in 5
Minny might get one at home, but I hate the way they match up with Chicago. Not feeling a long series here.
LA v. Anaheim
Kings in 5
I'll take the bold route and say five, but it could easily be a six game series. Goaltending will be key for the Ducks, along with secondary scoring. If they can't find that then it's five.
Eastern Conference
Pittsburgh v. New York Rangers
Rangers in 6
I like the Lundqvist v. Fleury match up in this series and I feel it will be the difference maker. Sidney Crosby has yet to wake up, and I don't think he will. Rangers defense is smothering and they have a lot of secondary scoring going right now. Still, Pens will get a few, but Rangers take it in 6.
Montreal v. Boston
Boston in 7
This is the series I don't feel comfortable in at all. Coin flip series. Boston in 7, Montreal in 7. I could go either way. I'll stick with my original thoughts and say Boston to the EC Finals. Tough call though.
Thoughts? Feelings? Complaints? Have at it folks.