While there is unbelievable team speed present in this series, don't expect it to manifest itself at all times. Calgary can skate with any team in the League, but they do not want to skate with the Mighty Ducks, who are keyed by the fleet-footed Teemu Selanne up front and the gazelle-like Scott Niedermayer on the blue line.

No, the Flames will be looking to impose a physical bent to this series that will slow the game down. The Flames know that their best hope of taking the red-hot Ducks away from the game that has served them so well for the last month is to pound Anaheim's skill players at every turn. As a result, expect nonstop hitting and post-whistle scrums to a mainstay of this battle.

Fortunately for Anaheim, the Ducks can play, and even prosper, in such an atmosphere. But, it is clearly not their choice. Instead, Anaheim will try to dictate a more wide-open, run-and-gun style that serves its talent base best. But, in the end, this series could well come down to goaltending and defense.

Calgary allowed a League-low 200 goals this season, nine fewer than the Presidents' Trophy-winning Detroit Red Wings. Anaheim, which struggled mightily -- excuse the pun -- early in the season, allowed just 229 goals. Each team has a world-class goalie with experience in the Stanley Cup Finals. Miikka Kiprusoff took Calgary to Game 7 of the Finals in 2004 and has turned in a MVP-type season this year. J.S. Giguere, meanwhile has found his way after a rough first half of the season. He took Anaheim to Game 7 of the 2003 Finals, earning Conn Smythe honors for his heroics despite losing the series to the New Jersey Devils.

Calgary Game Breakers

1. Miikka Kiprusoff: Simply, he is the reason that Calgary is a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. He has stolen more than his fair share of games this year, registering 42 victories. He also had a League-best 2.07 goals-against average and a League-high 10 shutouts. After Calgary's amazing run to Game 7 of the Finals against Tampa Bay, Calgary has supreme faith in its goalie, no matter the circumstances.

2. Jarome Iginla: The main threat among Calgary's defensive-minded forwards, Iginla has a team-high 35 goals -- 10 more than anybody else on the Flames' roster. Iginla has the skills to create offense on his own, but also is content to play within the team framework espoused by coach Darryl Sutter. He remains Calgary's biggest threat in the attacking zone despite just scoring 17 even-strength goals amongst his 35 tallies this year.

3. Dion Phaneuf: It is unusual for a rookie defenseman to be considered a game-breaker in the postseason, but Phaneuf is no ordinary rookie. He plays like a 10-year vet, appearing poised and confident in all situations, earning the hard-to-win trust of the coaching staff with his responsible play. Phaneuf plays more than 21 minutes per game and has delivered at both ends of the ice. He is a ferocious hitter that will prosper in the atmosphere expected in this series. Offensively, he is a menace on the power play, where he has scored 16 of his 20 goals.

Anaheim Game Breakers

1. Scott Niedermayer: Making a late charge to defend his Norris Trophy, Niedermayer is the glue that holds Anaheim's game plan together. Known by teammates as "Octopus" for his ability to adroitly use his stick to separate players from the puck, Niedermayer is rarely beaten in his own zone. Plus, he has the recovery speed to get back on plays he has no right contesting. This allows him to jump into the play on a regular basis, allowing him to amass a career-high 63 points. He eats up copious amounts of ice time, playing more than 25 minutes per game.

2. Andy McDonald: Often overshadowed because of his career-long battle with the injury bug, McDonald is a gifted playmaker who meshes well with whomever is placed on his flanks. He proved that this year as he amassed a career-high 85 points, 55 more points than his previous best from 2003-04. He led the team in assists (51) this year. But, McDonald is not afraid to shoot the puck if his passing options are denied. He finished second in goals (34) and managed a team-leading seven game-winning tallies. He also had 13 power-play tallies. McDonald fired an astoundingly high 229 shots this year, but connected on almost 15 percent of those attempts.

3. Teemu Selanne: Playing like the player that terrorized the League a decade earlier, Selanne once again has the ability to change the complexion of a game with just one rush. His open-ice skills are among the best in the game and have presented all defenders with difficulty this year. Selanne has 40 goals, the most he has scored since the 1998-99 season. Plus, Selanne had a terrific Olympic Tournament, carrying Finland to an unexpected silver medal, a performance that has him excited about this postseason in the NHL.

X Factors

Tony Amonte (CGY): Calgary will need goals from other sources beside Iginla if it is to have success in the postseason. Amonte was brought in from Philadelphia this off-season to be one of those complementary goal providers. He delivered with a 20-goal campaign, but will have to be even more offensive-minded now. Amonte has 51 points in 86 playoff games and has been to the third round of the postseason on two different occasions.

Ryan Getzlaf (ANA): This rookie has taken a steadily expanding role in Anaheim's offense since arriving for good with the parent club in early March. Currently, he is playing close to 15 minutes per game and is contributing in his role. He has 25 points in his last 25 games and finished the regular season with one goals and four assists in his last two outings. For the year, Getzlaf has 14 goals and 39 points and is a plus-6. Ten of his goals have come on the power play -- a rookie record for Anaheim.