The Day After +2.0: Ducks snag home-ice advantage from Oilers as series shifts to Anaheim
Edmonton opened the scoring midway through the first period when Leon Draisaitl found the back of the net, but the game never really settled into the type of structure the Oilers would have preferred. Cutter Gauthier answered on the power play, and from there, Anaheim dictated long stretches with its pace and pressure.
The difference showed up in the second period.
Anaheim took its first lead early in the frame and quickly built on it with another power-play goal. Edmonton responded with goals from Connor Murphy and Zach Hyman to keep things close, but a shorthanded goal against shifted momentum again and put the Oilers back on their heels. It was the stretch Kris Knoblauch pointed to afterward, with special teams ultimately deciding the game.
At five-on-five, Edmonton generated enough to stay within reach. The issue was everything around it.
The Oilers looked like a group still finding its timing. As Zach Hyman noted, it was the first time the top power-play unit had been together in a while, and it showed in moments where execution needed to be sharper. Plays that might connect cleanly later in a series were just off, and details in key situations weren’t tight enough.Connor McDavid didn’t overstate it, but his message was clear. This time of year demands a higher level, and Edmonton hasn’t fully reached it yet. The Oilers have been comfortable on the road in the past, but that won’t matter much if their game doesn’t come with them.
To Anaheim’s credit, the response from Game 1 was noticeable. The Ducks played with more intent, didn’t sit back after falling behind early, and took advantage when opportunities were there. Gauthier’s two-goal night and contributions throughout the lineup reflected what Leon Draisaitl emphasized after the game, that depth and execution in key moments often decide playoff games.
Edmonton kept pushing in the third and got within one on Josh Samanski’s first NHL playoff goal, but each time the game tightened, Anaheim had an answer. That’s the part that stands out most from Game 2.
The Oilers didn’t get run out of the building. They just didn’t play a playoff game for long enough stretches. The Ducks did, and it showed.What they said…
Oilers captain Connor McDavid on heading to Anaheim with the series tied…
“We’ve been in this situation a lot tied going on the road. We’re comfortable on the road, we like playing on the road, and obviously we would’ve liked a better outcome and a better product tonight, but we’re comfortable going on the road.”
“It’s playoffs, and we have to start going.”
Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch on the impact of special teams…
“Special teams, they outscored us three there. As good as you are 5-on-5 or as much as you can score, it’s pretty tough to overcome three goals there.
“I believe that was the story of the game tonight.”
Oilers forward Zach Hyman on the group finding its rhythm on the power play…
“I think we’re obviously a little bit rusty. It’s the first time we’ve been back, all five of us, in a little bit, and sometimes you just need the first one to drop. We’ve had chances, but we can be sharper and much cleaner.”
“In the middle period, there was a shorthanded goal and then a power play goal from them. They’ve been winning the special teams battle, and that’s a big battle in the playoffs.”
Anaheim forward Cutter Gauthier on the team’s confidence in high-pressure moments…
“We have the confidence. All season long when games have been tied and we’ve been down goals, we’ve been in some high-pressure moments, we knew they were going to come back with a great push and obviously scoring that goal and tying things up with eight minutes to go.
“Nothing was said on the bench, we knew what to expect going into the third and I’m happy with how we reacted.”
Ducks forward Alex Killorn on the team’s adjustment following their Game 1 loss…
“I think Game 1 we kind of sat back a little bit. No one was sitting back today, I think that’s why we ended up getting that goal with Cutter.
“It was a better third period for us, compared to Game 1. We’re going to learn as we go on here and continue to get better.”
Up next…The series now shifts to Anaheim as a best-of-five, with the Ducks holding home-ice advantage. Game 3 is set for Friday at 8:00 PM MT, followed by Game 4 on Sunday at 7:30 PM MT.The Oilers will need to find a result on the road to stay in control of the series. Dropping both games in Anaheim would put Edmonton on the verge of elimination heading back home for Game 5 next week.