Let’s Talk About Match-Ups

The second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs begins tonight, as the Calgary Flames trek to Disneyland to face the Anaheim Ducks.

Like with the series between Calgary and Vancouver, the second round pairing will likely be decided by which team can find effective match-ups against the other team, and then exploit those match-ups. (Calgary was particularly good at this at home.)

Here’s a quick glance at what kind of match-ups each side may be looking to get this round.

Here’s face-off figures from the five head-to-head games. Percentages are included, and it gives you an idea of how each player was used in relation to the other team’s key players.

If I’m Anaheim, I target these match-ups: Kesler’s line against Backlund’s line, Getzlaf’s line against Monahan’s line, Thompson’s line against Stajan’s line and Rakell’s line against the Jooris trio. The top two Ducks lines have size and speed and can negate Calgary’s talented players, while Thompson and Jackman can attempt to physically wear down the Flames crashers and bangers. They may be giving up some possession time to Calgary’s fourth line due to face-off superiority for the Flames, but it’s also the fourth line and the Ducks may be fine with that.

If I’m Calgary, I try this: Stajan’s line against Kesler’s line, Backlund’s line against Getzlaf’s line, and then let Monahan’s line play against any of the Ducks’ bottom-six. The key here is you utilize Ferland and Jones to wear down Kesler’s trio, and the speed of Backlund and Bennett and the physicality of Colborne (and Bennett) can attempt to wear down the Getzlaf/Perry dynamic duo. And the Monahan line simply need time and space to create offense, and they’re likely fast enough to avoid the physicality of the Ducks’ bottom six.

I’m leaning towards the Ducks strategy, if only because they get an extra home game in the series. But given that the Flames were able to steal a game at home from the Canucks, your guess is as good as mine.