NHL playoffs: Previewing Ducks-Flames, Capitals-Rangers
One or four tickets has been punched to the conference finals in the Stanley Cup playoffs. On Thursday night, the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Minnesota Wild, 4-3, in what was a bizarre and, well, wild finish. Chicago swept Minnesota and now awaits the winner of the Anaheim Ducks and Calgary Flames.
The Ducks were rolling along up until Game 3 on Tuesday night. Anaheim swept aside the Winnipeg Jets in the Western Conference quarterfinals before easily beating the Flames in the first two games at Honda Center. However, despite a blatantly-missed call that would have tied the game late in Game 3, the Flames rallied in the final minute on a Johnny Gaudreau power-play goal with under 20 seconds remaining. In the overtime session, Calgary sent the Scotiabank Saddledome into ecstasy with a marker from Mikael Backlund at 4:24.
While Anaheim is the more talented and experienced team, it seemed the momentum took a hard turn toward the Flames. In what promises to be a raucous building on Friday, it will be intriguing to see if this young, confident Flames team can rise to the occasion and make matters really interesting. If the Ducks win, it would shocking to see Anaheim need more than just one game to close out Calgary. However, if the Flames can find a way to eek out a victory, the fight is on.
Currently, the Ducks have the third-best odds of the seven remaining teams to win the Stanley Cup, posted by Vegas Insider at 7/2. Calgary only has better odds than the Montreal Canadiens (who are trailing the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-games-to-1 in their series) with 25/1 numbers.
Over in the Eastern Conference, the top-seeded New York Rangers are merely trying to stay alive. The Washington Capitals stole Game 1 in Madison Square Garden and returned to the Verizon Center with a 1-1 series tie. In Games 3 and 4, Washington goaltender Braden Holtby backstopped the Capitals to a pair of wins, holding the Rangers to a combined one goal.
Washington was always known as a team with a potent offense, little defense and no backbone. Suddenly, the Capitals are on the brink of an upset heading into Game 5. Still, the Rangers are extremely dangerous with stars like Rick Nash, Martin St. Louis and Henrik Lundqvist on the ice. If New York can defend home ice, it goes into Game 6 knowing one road win gets it back to the Garden for the all-important Game 7.
First, though, the Blueshirts will have to figure out Holtby. The Rangers could use a win in any fashion, but an easy win might be nice for the fans. This postseason, New York has played in nine games, and all nine have been determined by one goal, an NHL record.
Washington has actually moved ahead in odds to win the Cup, slated at 7/2, tied for third. The Rangers, now in a 3-1 hole, are 16/1.
