Oilers Playoff Gameday: Game 3 – Vs. Ducks

I’m not sure anyone thought the Edmonton Oilers would be in the position they currently find themselves in. The Oilers, after knocking out the San Jose Sharks, are in complete control of their second round series against the Anaheim Ducks. After winning both in California, the Oilers can put the Ducks in a corner with a win in game three.

Edmonton won a wild affair 5-3 in game one, then held their ground in a 2-1 victory Friday night in game two. Tonight, they return to the what will be an incredible crowd in Edmonton. Cam Talbot and Leon Draisaitl, to this point, have controlled this series. Edmonton will need them again in game three.

Cam Talbot starts for the Oilers, while John Gibson goes for the Ducks.

Keys To The Game:

Edmonton: The Oilers desperately need a fast start tonight. The Ducks are already on their heels while the roof is ready to blow off Rogers Place. If Edmonton can get a few chances early and maybe a goal or two, it might be too much for Anaheim. Carrying the momentum is a very real possibility, and the Oilers have to find a way to do so early. Start off flying and this game could easily go to Edmonton.

Anaheim: The Ducks must play their physically punishing game tonight, both during and after the whistle. There has been no shortage of cheap shots after the whistle by this Anaheim team (shocker…) but they must find a way to make life tougher for Connor McDavid and his line. Physicality is the best way to do just that.

Players To Watch:

Edmonton: Adam Larsson had a tremendous game one, but was less than stellar in game two. If Larsson is off his game, it’s much easier for the Ducks to create chances and subsequently score goals. Cam Talbot bailed Edmonton out Friday, but tonight the defense must step up. Edmonton needs a bounce back game from Larsson.

Anaheim: John Gibson must flip the script. While the young netminder has not played bad by any means, he hasn’t stolen a game for his team yet. Cam Talbot, on the other hand, has stolen a game for his Oilers, and that’s the difference in this series right now. Gibson needs to do what every great goalie does, and I’ll be watching to see if he can.

The Lines:

Drake Caggiula left Friday’s game two with an injury, but Todd McLellan told reporters yesterday that he expects the young forward to play in game three. If Caggiula can’t go, I expect Matt Hendricks to draw in. Personally, I’d go with Anton Lander, but I doubt the Oil agree with me. All other lines are expected to remain the same.

Edmonton Oilers Lines:

Patrick Maroon – Connor McDavid – Leon Draisaitl

Milan Lucic – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Jordan Eberle

Drake Caggiula – Mark Letestu – Zack Kassian

Benoit Pouliot – David Desharnais – Anton Slepyshev

Oscar Klefbom – Adam Larsson

Andrej Sekera – Kris Russell

Darnell Nurse – Matt Benning

Cam Talbot

Anaheim Ducks Lines:

Nick Ritchie – Ryan Getzlaf – Patrick Eaves

Andrew Cogliano – Ryan Kesler – Jakob Silfverberg

Rickard Rakell – Nate Thompson – Corey Perry

Chris Wagner – Antoine Vermette – Logan Shaw

Cam Fowler – Brandon Montour

Hampus Lindholm – Josh Manson

Shea Theodore – Korbinian Holzer

John Gibson

Game Notes:

The last time the Edmonton Oilers took a 2-0 lead in a series? The 2006 Western Conference Final against the Anaheim Ducks. In that series, Edmonton also won the first two games on the road. Edmonton would win game three at home before dropping game four. Finally, the Oil would close the series out in five games. Will history repeat itself?

Speaking of history, the Oilers are now 5-0 all-time against the Ducks in Anaheim in the playoffs. The team is 1-1 at home in the postseason against Anahiem, and is 6-1 overall. Edmonton would love to see that postseason domination continue this evening.

While Drake Caggiula is ready to go for the Oilers, the news is not as good for Anaheim’s injured players. Both Kevin Bieksa and Sami Vatanen are expected to miss tonight’s game. Bieksa was injured in game one and is expected to be back at some point during this series, depending on how long it goes.

Prediction:

The tight checking and intense style from games one and two somehow gets left behind in Cali. Emotions will be high as Rogers Place rocks, and Edmonton jumps out to an early 1-0 lead. The Oilers add three goals later in the contest to make it 4-0, before the Ducks get it to 4-3 with a 3rd period outburst. The Oilers get a 5-3 goal with just minutes remaining before the Ducks make it 5-4, which ends up as the final score.

Wait? That’s game three from the 2006 West Final? Ah screw it, Oilers win tonight 5-4 and grab this series by the throat. Draisaitl, Eberle, Slepyshev, Nurse and Lucic get the goals while Perry, Eaves, Fowler and Thompson tally in a losing effort.