Flames preparing for hard-hitting Ducks
Reporters continue to diligently peck away at Micheal Ferland, trying to unearth more about the intriguing young man.
Tuesday morning, however, he reversed that dynamic, uncovering a key morsel of information for himself.
The Flames forward learned from media members that the NHL finally decided to announce the schedule for the second-round series between Calgary and the Anaheim Ducks.
Games 1 and 2 are slated for the Honda Center and now everyone knows exactly when.
“Oh, it is Thursday, Sunday?” asked the rookie, trying to confirm what one scribbler had just blurted. Yes, it’s true. “Oh, nice. Good to know. Thank you,” said Ferland. “Now I can start preparing. Game 1 is going to be a very high-intensity game.”
The break between Game 6 at the Saddledome and Game 1 in Anaheim — four days — has allowed the Flames to rest their stable of workhorses.
“Everyone is ready to go,” said coach Bob Hartley. “We know 99.9 (per cent) who’s going to be in our lineup Thursday night. Now it’s great. We know where we’re going. The fans know when the games will be played. We’re all good.
Had there been too much time between series or perhaps not enough?
“We know that we’re in the second round and that’s what matters the most,” said Hartley, whose squad practises in Calgary Wednesday morning before flying to Anaheim. “We’re a proud group and we know what we have to do. It’s about enjoying the moment. We earned it. We deserved it.”
The best-of-seven matchup shifts to Calgary for Game 3 but first things first.
Anaheim, as everyone knows, is the top outfit in the Western Conference.
Big, talented, surly — there is a lot to admire and fear.
“Regardless of points, what you did in the regular-season or past playoffs rounds, it’s a whole new game — it’s won or lost on the ice,” said defenceman Kris Russell. “We’ve got a lot of respect for that team, but we think we can challenge them.”
At an average of six feet and 193 pounds, the Flames are the smallest gang in the NHL. These California brutes, on the other hand, weigh in at an average of 208 pounds.
“It’s going to be a different kind of game against them,” said Russell. “They play a little bit heavier game than the Canucks do. The Canucks are more puck possession. (The Ducks) are a good team — they showed it ... sweeping a good team, Winnipeg. So regardless of the rest or how many days in between (series), we’ve got to make sure we’re prepared.”
Calgary’s game is based on ruthless forechecking.
“We definitely not looking to change our entire mindset,” said Brandon Bollig, “but we definitely need to match their physicality. If they’re going to come out and bang and play the way they did against Winnipeg, we do need guys to step up physically.”
The Flames registered 163 hits in their six first-round games, with Ferland providing 40 by himself.
The Ducks chalked up 173 in only four outings.
But Hartley says not to underestimate the intensity of the win over the Canucks.
“It was real physical,” the coach said. “If it becomes more physical (this week in Anaheim), we’ll have to call the army.”