from Rich Hammond of the OC Register,

Slamming doors is considered rude, except in the NHL playoffs. Then it’s simply prudent.

The Ducks ended their second-round series Sunday with their Game 5 3-2 victory over Calgary, and the Ducks improved to 2-0 in games with a chance to eliminate the opponent. They swept Winnipeg in the first round.

Now it’s on to the Chicago Blackhawks and the Western Conference final. The Ducks have advanced past the second round for the first time since 2007 and also have given indication that this team has changed for the better. In 2013 and 2014, the Ducks didn’t close the door, then saw it get slammed in their faces.

Two years ago, the Ducks led Detroit 3-2 in the first round, then lost Game 6 on the road and Game 7 at home. Last year in the second round, the Ducks led the Kings 3-2 and the same scenario repeated.

Lesson learned?

``I think we’re more composed than last year,’’ Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said. ``I think the experience, as much as we didn’t like it, in the end it helped us. That’s a really big positive. … We lost to the Stanley Cup champions. We lost in Game 7 and that lingered with us all year. They would like to make amends.’’

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