In a series many have thought would go the seven-game distance, the Anaheim Ducks completed the sweep Wednesday night with a 3-1 win to brush aside the Calgary Flames.
“It’s big. I think any time you can put a team behind you, you definitely want to take advantage of it,” the Ducks’ Ryan Getzlaf said. “You never want to give life. They’re a resilient bunch. They battled right to the end tonight and made us earn it, that’s for sure.”
John Gibson made 36 saves in the win as he turned to the Ducks net after being pulled in Game 3.
“I think we just kept getting better and better each game. I think the team that usually gets better, stronger as the playoffs and series goes on, they usually have more success,” Gibson said.
Getzlaf, Patrick Eaves and Nate Thompson struck for goals for the Ducks.
“We were able to capitalize on the opportunities that were presented. We had some puck luck, and I thought that in the situations we were presented we took advantage of them,” Anaheim head coach Randy Carlyle referring to the Ducks’ jumping on the limited opportunities.
Sean Monahan had the lone strike for the Flames.
“It [stinks],” Monahan said. “Getting into the playoffs, it’s the most fun to play hockey in the playoffs, and you go out in four [games]. It’s not a good feeling. We’ve got a good team here and we’ve got to get ready to go for next year.
“Right now and throughout the summer, getting swept in four is going to sting. But coming back next year, this is an exciting team to be on.”
[WATCH: All Ducks vs. Flames highlights | RELATED: Complete Anaheim vs. Calgary series coverage]
Brian Elliott got the start but was pulled after yielding just one goal, to Eaves, and made just two saves before the hook was sent out.
“As a goalie, you take pride on giving yourself and your team a chance to win every night,” Elliott said. “That [goal] off the bat, I still can’t explain how it goes under my pad there. I feel bad. I didn’t give our guys a chance right off the bat.”
Chad Johnson came into the game and made 20 saves in the loss.
Brian Elliott, who made a dramatic impact on the Flames since the new year began, had a tough series but could hardly be blamed for the Flames’ sweep.
“You have to tip your hat to the other team sometimes, but we have nothing to be ashamed of. We battled right to the bitter end. As a group, I thought we left everything out there and just came up short,” Calgary’s Mark Giordano said after the series loss.
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