Sure, the Anaheim Ducks ( 55-24-2-5 ) have had a full week off since sweeping Winnipeg in the first round of the playoffs. However, their extra rest could be negated when you consider the fact that the Calgary Flames ( 49-32-4-3 ) have had three days in a row to get ready for Game 1 of this series as well.
ODDS ANALYSIS
That's why it's a tad shocking to see Anaheim favored by a -190 margin at the Honda Center for Game 1. The Ducks, in spite of the fact that they were clearly the better of these two teams in the regular season, were never favored by that high of a margin. Now, this Calgary team is playing its best hockey of the season and looks to be very tough to tame.
GOALIE REPORT
Jonas Hiller had some moments where it felt like he was standing on his head against Vancouver. He didn't face gobs of shots (26.5 per game), but he did make some excellent saves. His 2.20 GAA doesn't do justice to how well he played.
Frederik Andersen also had a 2.20 GAA against the Jets, but he had a much easier time of it against a team which just wasn't excellent offensively. Winnipeg's opportunities were, at times, few and far between, and there were just tremendously long stretches where the Dane didn't have to face many shots, let alone any of quality.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"They've been doing it all year. They're a team that never quits. The minute you think that you've got them, they know how to apply an awful lot of pressure." – Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau on the challenge of trying to put away a team like Calgary
SITUATIONAL BETTING
As a testament to that fact, see Calgary's 10 wins this season when playing from behind in the third. The Flames had a knack for outscoring Vancouver in the final stanza as well as the series wore on.
Just one problem: Anaheim set an NHL record with 18 come-from-behind victories when trailing at some point during the third period.
Whichever team can hold the edge in the late minutes will be the one to ultimately win this game for sure.
PROP TALK
We just don't know if the Flames can handle Corey Perry here in the playoffs. He had three goals and four assists in the four games against the Jets, and he was always the best player on the ice. He will be once again in this one, and we know that he is going to try to exploit his talents against a team which can still be a pain in the butt to try to skate against.
ANALYSIS & PREDICTION
Don't you just get the feeling that the Flames are going to step up and challenge the Ducks right away?
Anaheim could fall into the trap of complacency, the same trap which was befallen unto Boudreau in his days with the Capitals as well.
As we’ve seen all season out of Calgary, leaving that door cracked just a bit is enough. The Flames might plow right through it and send a real message on Thursday night that this series is most certainly going to be a war from start to finish.
Calgary 3, Anaheim 1
BookMaker will open the odds for this Thursday game before anyone else on the internet. Now you can wager in-game while the action unfolds with BookMaker's live betting option.
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly interface on your smartphone or tablet provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! Game 1 of the series between the Calgary Flames and the Anaheim Ducks will start at 10:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 30, 2015 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA. The contest will be broadcast nationally on NBC Sports Network.
