The Oilers are taking a 2-0 series lead back to Edmonton this evening for game three of the best of seven.
Andrej Sekera also scored for Edmonton, which also won the first two games on the road in the 2006 Western Conference Finals against Anaheim.
Rogers Place had little to cheer until the Oilers scored in the final minute of the first period after giving up three to the Ducks.
Defenceman Kris Russell had a pair of assists for the Oilers, who took Game 1 of the series 5-3 and Game 2 by a score of 2-1.
As suddenly as the Oilers had come back to tie the game, the Ducks regained the lead.
Silfverberg delivered some insurance in the third with a one-time shot for his second of the night, with a review holding up the goal after Oilers coach Todd McLellan challenged that the winger was originally offside as the Ducks' Shea Theodore entered the zone with the puck.
Talbot got a piece of Wagner's wrist shot, but it deflected off his arm and in for a 4-3 Ducks lead at 9:20 of the second period.
But while Talbot outplayed Gibson in stealing Game 2, it was Gibson who made the critical saves that steadied the Ducks.
Rakell got a long pass from Getzlaf behind the Edmonton defense and scored on a breakaway 25 seconds in for the fastest playoff goal to start a game in franchise history. John Gibson should be the starter in Anaheim's goal.
The Ducks had the past week off after sweeping the Flames, but both teams came out with a mid-series physical approach in the scoreless first period. They are good enough to beat plenty of teams.
Should the Ducks hold on to this lead, they'll cut Edmonton's series lead to 2-1.
Kyle Lowry opting out of final year of Raptors contract
But with Kyle Lowry on the bench for a second straight game with a sprained ankle, Raptors couldn't match the Cavs' firepower. The guy came straight out of high school to be selected No. 1 overall in the 2003 National Basketball Association draft.
Anaheim Ducks coach Randy Carlyle's favourite pre-game line is: "This is the biggest game of the year", but he strangely didn't offer it up to the media Sunday morning, when it actually was. A fourth round pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Kopacka set career highs in goals, 30, and points, 49 in the 2016-17 Ontario Hockey League regular season before adding five goals and 11 points in 11 playoff games. That's more than half of McDavid's total ice time, including special teams play, where 1-on-1 match-ups become harder to maintain (Josh Manson and Hampus Lindholm got the McDavid assignment on defense).
The main problem with the Oilers play in Game 3 was the defence.
So Anaheim has a choice now for Game 2.
"The way we played in our [defensive zone] matched the way that we executed, matched the way that we competed all over the ice", said Yeo.
A sold-out Honda Center could barely keep up when a tense 1-1 game morphed into a free-for-all as each team scored two goals apiece in a 4:24 span midway through the third.
"Hundred percent a steal", McDavid pointed out to Sportsnet after the victory in Game 2.
NOTES: Oilers forward Drake Caggiula did not play again after his first and only shift of the second period. We're doing a lot of good things. His shot was going wide but Cam Talbot misplayed it.
The Oilers made it 3-2 just 1:28 into the second.
The goal was Rakell's third of the playoffs, bringing his points total up to six in seven postseason appearances for Anaheim. Perhaps that's why the Ducks' second straight loss at home barely caused a flicker of apparent concern in their calm dressing room.
Game 3 is Sunday at Nashville, Tennessee.





Comments