Draisaitl helps Oilers rout Ducks 7-1 to force Game 7

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jordan Eberle will be together as in Anaheim on a third line, both looking for their first goal of the playoffs.

The Ducks had been flat for much of regulation time.

The Ducks took a 3-2 series lead with a dramatic comeback and double overtime win Friday night. It’s definitely rare to see that kind of a showing in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and this was one of the oddest playoff games in some time.

After a scoreless first period in Game 5, Draisaitl put the Oilers ahead 15 seconds into the second when his shot was kicked into the net by Gibson. Rakell’s goal came when Anaheim trailed 6-0 in what was a thoroughly miserable experience for the Anaheim Ducks in their return to Alberta. Here’s Cam Fowler with some morbid foreshadowing before Game 6. “I’ve spent too many hours worrying about the rest of the guys and what they’re doing”. Coach Mike Yeo has hinted at changing up his power-play combinations after being pleased with his Blues’ effort despite losing Game 4. I don’t think there is anything that we’re going to come across that we can’t bounce back from.

“I actually didn’t know until the warmups, but I was ready, since the day when playoffs started”, Jaskin said. “It’s just hard to make that determination now”.

Though the Oilers are in the postseason since 2006, they’re in a familiar situation.

Edmonton had sprinted to a six-goal lead by the first minute of the second period before the Ducks countered with a lone goal from Rickard Rakell.

In Game 5, the collapse was completed when, with 15 seconds left in a 3-2 game, Ryan Kesler appeared to be holding goalie Cam Talbot’s leg in the crease as Rackell slid the puck five-hole. “He picked up the puck on his first couple of shifts and you knew he was determined to do something with the first two goals”. “There is a frustration level building”, Chiarelli told reporters on Saturday. “It’s not because of the process. Because it’s a shame that we are where we are right now with a call like that”. “It paid off that we can keep this calmness to the group”. “You play 45 minutes you’re leaving it all out there”, said Fowler, who played a career high 35 minutes in game 5.

EDMONTON-The Edmonton Oilers are forcing the Anaheim Ducks to face their Game 7 playoff demons. “Now you have to go out and do it”.

He’d add an assist on a Mark Letestu goal before the period was over, giving him three points in a big five goal period for Edmonton. The Bruins trailed 4-1 halfway through the third, and won 5-4 in overtime. “He’s been the difference in this series for us”, forward Andrew Cogliano said after the game.

A fifth trip through that Groundhog Day scenario looms Wednesday due to their miserable performance in a 7-1 loss at Edmonton on Sunday. Obviously, you feel more comfortable. (Friday) night wasn’t like that.

According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, the Oilers are favored at home, as they are getting odds of -125 to win.

They didn’t get enough production from their forwards against Nashville. “Numbers-wise, we’re pretty young, but Leon’s a man and Connor has been through the spotlight and when you bounce back like this it takes maturity”.

Maybe this series is simply destined for Game 7. Game 4, Edmonton blows a lead, ties it late, the Ducks respond to win in OT.

“A first period like that, you give yourself such a big lead, and I thought all four lines were very unsafe tonight”, Draisaitl said.

So, in the aftermath of the ghastly result, they went about starting to handle the same questions that have been four years running.

“Shows we’re a team”, said coach Todd McLellan. After being held without a point for the first four playoff games, he now has 16 points (6 G, 10 A) in 12 games, to rank second in playoff scoring, one behind Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin.