Anaheim Ducks: How They Match Up Against Detroit and Vancouver
Considering Anaheim is still flirting with the line that divides postseason competitors from regular-season flops, we are going to look deeper into two possible matchups Anaheim could be facing in the first round of the NHL playoffs.
As long as the Ducks manage to be on the brighter side of the standings, they will probably be sitting sixth or lower, meaning they could very likely be facing off with the Presidents Trophy-winning Vancouver Canucks, or the second-place team in the West, the Detroit Red Wings.
Let's take a little time to analyze the details of each of these matchups in terms of five key parts of the game: offense, defense, goaltending, special teams and overall matchup.
Anaheim vs. Detroit: Offense
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Detroit average goals per game: 3.18 (First in NHL)
Anaheim average goals per game: 2.84 (11th in NHL)
As you can see just by the statistics, Detroit has a pretty clear upper hand. Any hockey fan knows that it's never an easy night when your opponent is Detroit, and the postseason status of games does not do anything but possibly amplify its upper hand.
On the other hand, even though the Red Wings won three of the four contests with the Ducks this season, the last game ended in Anaheim's favor after a 1-1 tie forced the game into extra minutes. Bobby Ryan would score the game-winning goal in dramatic fashion by potting a penalty shot rewarded to him in overtime.
So, there's no question about it that Detroit is offensively superior, but there's so much more to the game than just offensive production.
Anaheim vs. Detroit: Defense
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Detroit average shots against per game: 30.6 (15th in NHL)
Anaheim average shots against per game: 32.2 (26th in NHL)
When it comes to defense, Anaheim has one of the weaker ones in the NHL, and mostly because there are many key players who are still young and maturing.
Detroit has the veteran presence of such players as Nicklas Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski, Ruslan Salei and Brad Stuart, just to name four of the five players who are 30 years or older. Anaheim, on the other hand, has some players as young as 19 (Cam Fowler) or 21 (Luca Sbisa).
Overall, Detroit has the stronger lineup defensively, making the Wings a huge threat, especially when a strong defense is paired with such a dynamic and powerful offense.
Anaheim vs. Detroit: Goaltending
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Detroit average goals against per game: 2.87 (22nd in NHL)
Anaheim average goals against per game: 2.90 (23rd in NHL)
Finally, we have reached a category that seems to be pretty equally matched between these two teams, but in reality, when you take a step closer and see the details, it could be argued that Anaheim has the stronger goaltenders. Allow me to explain.
Anaheim's average for goals against per game is a touch worse than Detroit, but given the discrepancy between the defense numbers, and the average shots allowed per game, Anaheim clearly has some better netminders. Anaheim's goalies face significantly more shots than the Red Wing goalies, but they have roughly the same goals allowed, making Anaheim's goaltenders individually more impressive.
Overall, if Anaheim allowed the same shots on goal as Detroit, it would come out on top because of the strength of its goalies, especially once Jonas Hiller makes his way back into games. However, Emery has held up his end of the deal and proved valuable in the demanding times.
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Anaheim vs. Detroit: Special Teams
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Detroit power-play percentage: 22.6 (Fourth in NHL)
Anaheim power-play percentage: 22.3 (Fifth in NHL)
Here is the second category that has Anaheim and Detroit roughly evenly matched. In short, both these Western teams have pretty lethal power-play lineups, and a lot of that is because they both have some strong point-producing defenders to cover the blue line during the man advantage.
Both these teams understand how to be strong and dangerous when they are on the better end of a five-on-four scenario, and because of that, if these teams show down in the first round, both teams need to show their discipline and stay out of the penalty box.
Detroit penalty-killing percentage: 82.5 (16th in NHL)
Anaheim penalty-killing percentage: 80.8 (21st in NHL)
When it comes to being on the wrong side of a penalty situation, Anaheim has a worse percentage than Detroit, but that is possibly because the Ducks allow so many more shots on their goalies than the Red Wings do.
The Red Wings are better at killing off the penalty time than Anaheim, and because of this, have less at risk when it comes to losing a player for two minutes. So when it comes to special teams, the Red Wings have the upper hand.
Anaheim vs. Detroit: Overall Matchup
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Detroit regular-season record: 46-23-10
Anaheim regular-season record: 44-30-5
Obviously, with Detroit currently sitting in the number two spot in the Western Conference and Anaheim in the number seven spot, it shouldn't be a surprise that if these two teams show down in round one, Detroit is automatically favored to win the series.
As much as Detroit would be picked to take the series, there shouldn't be much of a surprise that if the Anaheim stars gets hot—with the sweet hands of Corey Perry and the possible stalwart backstopping from Jonas Hiller or Ray Emery—the Ducks know how to put up a fight.
Anaheim has been a team that has managed to upset teams ranked first or second on several past occasions. The Ducks are a strong team who, when it comes to the postseason, can turn on the power and find ways to win games, even if it isn't pretty.
Overall, if this is a first-round matchup, make sure to tune in because the games between these two are always entertaining, and Anaheim can pull off several upsets.
Anaheim vs. Vancouver: Offense
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Vancouver average goals per game: 3.16 (Second in NHL)
Anaheim average goals per game: 2.84 (11th in NHL)
When you have big names like the Sedin twins leading your roster, I think it is safe to say that very few teams are eager to face off against you, and Vancouver has a pretty stacked roster of lethal scorers.
Anaheim isn't necessarily lacking in the scoring department, especially considering it is home to the league's leading goal scorer, Corey Perry. However, Anaheim doesn't have the same consistent scoring that Vancouver has each night. Anaheim can end up scoring five or six goals one night, and then end up getting shut out just two nights later, while the Canucks manage to score several goals every time the puck is dropped.
Vancouver has the more lethal offense of these two clubs, and in reality, that is something that isn't expected to change in the playoffs.
Anaheim vs. Vancouver: Defense
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Vancouver average shots against per game: 30.2 (13th in NHL)
Anaheim average shots against per game: 32.2 (26th in NHL)
Even with how lethal the Canucks are offensively, they manage to play pretty balanced, two-way hockey. They hold up impressive numbers defensively as well, which is expected from the team that takes home the Presidents Trophy.
Anaheim is notorious for giving up too many shots against, and, in turn, too many scoring chances, which ends up falling back on their defensive capabilities. In every showdown with Vancouver this season, the Ducks have given up at least three goals in regulation.
Vancouver not only has a superior offense, but stronger numbers defensively, making the Canucks a very well-rounded hockey club that no one should look forward to facing in the postseason.
Anaheim vs. Vancouver: Goaltending
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Vancouver average goals against per game: 2.23 (First in NHL)
Anaheim average goals against per game: 2.90 (23rd in NHL)
When it comes to dynamic duos in goaltenders, one pair of goalies that should automatically come to mind are clad in Vancouver jerseys: Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider. When it comes to unparalleled veteran goalies, Luongo should undoubtedly come to mind, and when he needs a break, Schneider has proven time and again that he is strong and reliable enough to hold up the backup job.
For Anaheim, if Jonas Hiller returns in time for the playoffs, Anaheim's goaltending situation seems much brighter. Even if Hiller doesn't improve enough to skate, Ray Emery has been a pleasant surprise between the pipes. Emery might not be the seasoned playoff goalie who is expected to backstop a team in the postseason, but he has proven his worth and could be even that much more helpful in the playoff race.
With goalies, Vancouver still has the edge over Anaheim, but if Anaheim manages to score a few goals behind the Canuck netminder, then the games always prove entertaining.
Anaheim vs. Vancouver: Special Teams
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Vancouver power-play percentage: 24.4 (First in NHL)
Anaheim power-play percentage: 22.3 (Fifth in NHL)
When it comes to these statistics, it's impressive to see Anaheim ranked so high, yet struggling to make the playoffs. However, Vancouver sitting on top of the power play rankings isn't much of a surprise considering it is ranked first in the league.
Vancouver, of course, has the upper hand in power plays, but with its roster, who would expect otherwise? The Canucks have a huge lineup of superstars in their sweaters, and in reality, no one would expect a team like Anaheim to shut down such a goliath team of stars when outnumbered.
Vancouver penalty-killing percentage: 86.1 (Second in NHL)
Anaheim penalty-killing percentage: 80.8 (21st in NHL)
In penalty killing, Vancouver, yet again, has much more impressive statistics, and because of that, it finds ways to shut down opponents even when it is fighting down a penalty and thus temporarily outnumbered.
Vancouver is a crazy impressive, very well-rounded team who no one should be eager to face in the postseason. The Canucks know how to step it up, even when chipping away at a five-on-four situation, and because of that, they are terrifying to be pitted against in the playoffs.
Anaheim vs. Vancouver: Overall Matchup
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Vancouver regular season record: 52-18-9
Anaheim regular season record: 44-30-5
The Vancouver Canucks have had an overall spectacular season, as clearly illustrated by their record. However, I stand by the idea that the Ducks can pull off some pretty impressive upsets if they find an opponent's weakness and they find a way to get hot.
In terms of the Anaheim-Vancouver series in the regular season, Anaheim won two of the four contests, and Vancouver won one in regulation and one in a shootout.
Anaheim is an impressive lineup of young stars, and even though Vancouver has had an unparalleled regular season, Anaheim has had its burst of stellar play, and the main questions have been around the injury-ridden players.
If Jonas Hiller returns to play in the postseason, Anaheim has a much brighter hope at pulling off an upset over 1-seed Vancouver, but if Hiller doesn't manage to return, then there isn't the same hope that is present if Jonas is backstopping the Ducks.
All in all, no one really wants to face off against the Canucks. They are lethal, but if Anaheim ends the regular season on a high note, it could be quite dangerous in the playoffs, especially in the first round.
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