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2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Pacific Division Finals

By Tim Redinger

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The first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs are over for the Western Conference – and teams are nestling in for the fight to get out of the divisional round and into the Conference Finals.

For the Pacific Division, it has been a while since one of our teams played, and one team that continues to shock and surprise the hockey world.

2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Pacific Division Finals Anaheim Ducks vs Calgary Flames

The Anaheim Ducks and Calgary Flames are set to open up the second round of the playoffs, and the Ducks have to be itching to get back into playing hockey – being they were the first team to finish up their first round series.  Do the Calgary Flames have what it takes to continue their magic season?

How They Got Here

The Anaheim Ducks swept the Winnipeg Jets in the first round of the playoffs – making quick work of their first opponent.  Is that going to help or hurt the Anaheim Ducks – they have had to sit the longest without playing hockey. Looking back on the first round picks I made, stat-line pick had me pick the Ducks in four – so dead on there so far if you were expecting me to help you with your bracket challenge.

Calgary had a little bit of a different road to the second round than the Ducks, needing six games to eliminate the Vancouver Canucks.  Part of me is really glad that Ryan Miller got knocked out of the playoffs in the first round for the second straight season since being traded by the Buffalo Sabres.  Of course, the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs weren’t a walk in the park for him either.

Pacific Division Finals: Picking The Second Round

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Same as in the first round, the stat line and the heart line picks are up for grabs.  This series could be a great one for the fans, ans the Calgary Flames continue to shock and surprise the hockey world by winning hockey games. The Flames were not supposed to be this team, at least this year.

The Anaheim Ducks are cold though – not saying they don’t have any hockey left in them, but they have been waiting the longest since the end of the first round.  And then there is the Hiller factor.

The Calgary Flames have a goaltender that has a little bit of extra incentive to get up for the games in the second round.  After playing with the Ducks for seven seasons and trying to get far in the playoffs with them, Jonas Hiller now has the chance to step up for his team, and eliminate the Anaheim Ducks.

All along I haven’t felt that this was the Anaheim Ducks season, but I didn’t think it would be the Calgary Flames to knock them off.  It won’t matter who makes it out of the Pacific Division, because I think the Chicago Blackhawks will be the Western Conference Champion playing for the Stanley Cup.

Stat Line Pick – Anaheim Ducks in six games.

Heart Line Pick – Calgary Flames in six games

Next: Trading The Buffalo Sabres First Round Pick In 2016

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