The Anaheim Ducks had the chance to punch their ticket to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Tuesday evening after winning both games of their first round series against the Edmonton Oilers on home ice, but the hosts clearly had other ideas.
The Oilers raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first period, en route to a 4-1 victory at Rogers Place, staving off elimination to live another day and force a Game 6 back in Anaheim.
Following the loss, multiple Ducks players spoke about the experience of the Oilers, who have made back-to-back appearances in the Stanley Cup Final.
“They went to two (Stanley) Cup Finals for a reason — they’re a good hockey team, and we believe in this room, but we knew they were going to push,” Ducks forward Troy Terry said, via NHL.com.
“Just some mental mistakes, I didn’t think we weren’t ready. Just one of those games we got down early. I thought we pressed the whole game. That’s how it goes, it’s playoff hockey.”
“They have a ton of experience,” echoed Alex Killorn, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning. “They have a lot of guys who went to the Cup Final the last two years, so that experience is invaluable. In a lot of series, they’ve been down and never gave up.
“But, if you told us we can go home for Game 6 and win the series, I think that’s a great position that we’re in.”
The Ducks will look to close out the Oilers once and for all at Honda Center on Thursday evening, with puck drop scheduled for just after 10:00 p.m. ET.
The Anaheim Ducks had the chance to punch their ticket to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Tuesday evening after winning both games of their first round series against the Edmonton Oilers on home ice, but the hosts clearly had other ideas.