{"id":288818,"date":"2026-04-27T23:23:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T23:23:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/288818\/"},"modified":"2026-04-27T23:23:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T23:23:16","slug":"5-things-to-watch-as-the-oilers-try-to-avoid-early-playoff-elimination-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/288818\/","title":{"rendered":"5 things to watch as the Oilers try to avoid early playoff elimination"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Estimated 3 minutes<\/p>\n

The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.<\/p>\n

After reaching the Stanley Cup final each of the last two years, the Edmonton Oilers face elimination Tuesday at home against the Anaheim Ducks. <\/p>\n

Edmonton trails the best-of-seven first-round series three games to one.<\/p>\n

Here are five things to watch for as the Oilers try to extend their season.<\/p>\n

Jarry or Ingram?<\/p>\n

Goaltender Tristan Jarry’s first playoff start as an Oiler \u2014 and first since 2022 \u2014 was quality with 34 saves in a 4-3 overtime loss in Game 4 on Sunday. The 30-year-old from Surrey, B.C., was Connor Ingram’s backup down the regular-season home stretch. <\/p>\n

Jarry repelled a flurry of Ducks’ salvos late in the first period to preserve a 2-0 lead. He gave up two even-strength goals, including the goalie-nightmare overtime winner that deflected off teammate Darnell Nurse’s leg and between his pads. <\/p>\n

But the Oilers’ lone win this series came with Ingram in net in Game 1. Head coach Kris Knoblauch said Monday he had yet to decide on his Game 5 starter.<\/p>\n

\"DucksEdmonton Oilers goaltender Connor Ingram as members of the Anaheim Ducks celebrate behind him in the third period of Game 3 on Friday. (Mark J. Terrill\/AP Photo)Connor McDavid<\/p>\n

Edmonton’s captain is not comfortable. He winced after a first-period collision with Alex Killorn in Game 4 and rolled his ankle in the second period of Game 2 when he collided with teammate Mattias Ekholm. <\/p>\n

While the NHL’s post-season scoring leader three of the last four seasons has posted back-to-back multi-point games, there have been few bursts of his trademark speed that create headaches for the opposition.<\/p>\n

Special teams<\/p>\n

Edmonton’s power play was 3-for-4 over the last two games after starting 0-for-6. But the penalty kill, sorely missing injured centre Adam Henrique, gave three back to the Ducks in those two games. Anaheim climbed back into Game 4 with two power-play goals in the second period. <\/p>\n

Oilers forward Josh Samanski may be cutting his playoff teeth, but stick infractions in each of the last two games led to power-play goals for Anaheim.<\/p>\n

Dickinson factor<\/p>\n

Like the captain, third-line centre Jason Dickinson isn’t completely healthy, but his return to Edmonton’s lineup after sitting out two straight games made for a more cohesive attack and defence. <\/p>\n

He generated Edmonton’s first goal 38 seconds after the Game 4 puck drop by wheeling the puck low to high in the offensive zone, helping set up Kasperi Kapanen’s team-leading fourth playoff goal.<\/p>\n

Experience versus youth<\/p>\n

The Oilers may be more battle-hardened in the playoffs than the Ducks, who are making their post-season return after a seven-year absence. But Anaheim’s young, fresh legs \u2014 a dozen Ducks are under the age of 25 \u2014 have made Edmonton look slow at times. <\/p>\n

“Anaheim, this season, has been a very hot and cold team,” Knoblauch said Monday. “You look at the streaks they’ve gone on. I believe they’re playing very good hockey right now. We’ve got to find a way, how to break them.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Listen to this article Estimated 3 minutes The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":288662,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[163,165,164],"class_list":["post-288818","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-anaheim","tag-anaheim","tag-anaheim-headlines","tag-anaheim-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/288818","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=288818"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/288818\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/288662"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=288818"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=288818"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=288818"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}