Not sure I like the decision, I get WHY it was decided but I am not convinced that we should be changing the way things worked in the regular season just because it's the playoffs.
Sure Hiller will be playing like he's got something to prove but he's also a goalie that the Sharks are most familiar with.
I just hope that Hartley will have him on a short leash for the start.
I believe in my heart this is a 6 game series but I am completely lost as to deciding who will be the winner but if forced to choose I would give it to the Ducks. (yes that PAINS me to say it)
The regular season record has them winning 3 to our 2 and one of ours was a shootout win which in the playoffs is a crap shoot so let's call that 3.5 to 1.5 with and we didn't win any on the road which is an obvious requirement here.
They are deeper down the middle and certainly more "truculent" than we are, a team built to take the Kings head on in the playoffs and though we kicked some king checking from behind regular season hockey isn't the same as playoff hockey. Our only advantages are speed and hard work.
That being said I can't count the Flames out at all if we can keep from trying to out "tough" them and force them to play our game then I think we have a chance as I honestly don't expect this series to be much of a goalie dual.
Fingers are crossed, if we can get through this series I think we have a legitimate shot at a SCF! Go Flames!!
