Anaheim Evens Series With Win In Edmonton

The Edmonton Oilers failed to take a 2-0 series lead on Wednesday. A few mistakes cost them the game. The Anaheim Ducks did what they needed to do to win the game and tie the best-of-seven series.

With the series now heading to Anaheim for Games 3 and 4, the Oilers need to win at least one of those games. Doing so will allow them to maintain home-ice advantage. Edmonton is hoping the series doesn’t go to a Game 7, but if it does, at least they will be at home in front of their own fans.

The difference maker in Game 2 was the power play. Edmonton went 0/4 on the power play while the Ducks were 2/3. Credit to Anaheim’s goaltender, Lukas Dostal, who faced 37 shots in the game.

Oilers’ fans can also breathe a sigh of relief that team captain Connor McDavid doesn’t appear to be seriously injured. McDavid got tangled up with defenseman Mattias Ekholm as they headed into the defensive zone. He immediately pulled up and began limping toward the bench and went right down the tunnel. McDavid missed six minutes of game action but eventually returned to the ice.

Oilers and Ducks Game 2 Recap

First Period:

Leon Draisaitl gave the Oilers the lead with the game’s first goal at 8:58 in the first period. He got to a Jake Walman rebound and attempted a cross-ice pass, but it deflected off a Ducks player and into the back of the net.

The lead did not last long, as Cutter Gauthier scored the tying goal for the Ducks at 12:48 on the power play. Shots were 15-10 for Edmonton after one.

Second Period:

The Ducks wasted little time taking the lead in the second period. Jacob Trouba scored at 02:44. Less than three minutes later, Alex Killorn made it 3-1 for the Ducks with a power play goal at 05:35.

Connor Murphy scored a goal for the Oilers at 11:46 to try and get his team back into the game. Edmonton had the perfect chance to tie the game on the power play but instead gave up a short-handed goal to Ryan Poehling at 15:50. Zach Hyman scored off a deflection at 17:48 to get the Oilers back within one.

Third Period:

Josh Samanski tied the game for the Oilers at 13:51 of the third period. However, Gauthier notched his second goal of the game at 15:08 to help the Ducks retake the lead.

Poehling scored his second of the game with an empty net goal at 18:50. The goal secured a victory for the Ducks. They will now travel home for Games 3 and 4 with the series tied 1-1.