It's time for the second round of the playoffs, as the NHL's quest for the Stanley Cup continues. This series features Pacific Division rivals, the Anaheim Ducks and the Edmonton Oilers.
Game 1: Honda Center, Anaheim, California. In goal: Cam Talbot for the Oilers and John Gibson for the Ducks. Anaheim got going in the second period with a Ryan Getzlaf power play goal, his fourth of the postseason, powered by Cam Fowler and Ryan Kesler. Edmonton tied it on a Mark Letestu power play goal, his second of the playoffs, with assists provided by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Leon Draisaitl. The Oilers added on in the third period with a Letestu power play goal, his second of the game and third of the postseason, made possible by Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. Edmonton added on with an Adam Larsson goal, via Draisaitl, who got a sock trick, and Patrick Maroon. The Ducks got one back with a Patrick Eaves goal, his second of the playoffs, helped along by Getzlaf and Brandon Montour. Anaheim tied it on a Jakob Silfverberg goal, his third of the postseason, assisted by Andrew Cogliano and Kesler. The Oilers regained the lead on a Larsson goal, his second of the playoffs, passed from Oscar Klefbom and Maroon. Edmonton iced it at 5-3 with a Draisaitl empty net goal, his second of the postseason, set up by Milan Lucic and Larsson. The three stars were Draisaitl, Letestu, and Larsson, while Maroon, Getzlaf, and Kesler get the honorable mentions. The Oilers have a 1-0 series lead.
Game 2: Honda Center, Anaheim, California. In goal: Cam Talbot for the Oilers and John Gibson for the Ducks. Edmonton led off in the first period with an unassisted Andrej Sekera goal. The Oilers added on with a Patrick Maroon power play goal, his second of the postseason, powered by Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in the second period. Anaheim got on the board with a Jakob Silfverberg power play goal, his fourth of the playoffs, with assists provided by Cam Fowler and Ryan Kesler. This stood for the 2-1 final, with the three stars being Talbot (39 for 40 in saves), Maroon, and Sekera. The Oilers head home with a 2-0 series lead in hand.
Game 3: Rogers Place, Edmonton, Alberta. In goal: John Gibson for the Ducks and Cam Talbot for the Oilers. Anaheim began in the first period with a Rickard Rakell goal, his third of the postseason, via Ryan Getzlaf and Brandon Montour. The Ducks added on with a Jakob Silfverberg goal, his fifth of the playoffs, coming off of Hampus Lindholm. Anaheim extended the lead as Getzlaf scored his fifth of the postseason, going in unassisted. Edmonton got on the board with a Patrick Maroon goal, his third of the playoffs, guided in by Kris Russell and Leon Draisaitl. The Oilers got on the board with an Anton Slepyshev goal, his second of the postseason, courtesy of David Desharnais and Russell. Edmonton tied it on a Connor McDavid goal, his third of the playoffs, an unassisted goal. The Ducks gain the lead with a Chris Wagner goal, helped along by Josh Manson and Shea Theodore. Anaheim padded the lead with a Silfverberg goal, his second of the game and sixth of the postseason, with helpers from Manson and Theodore. The Ducks iced it at 6-3 with a Ryan Kesler goal, with a lone assist by Silfverberg. The three stars went to Silfverberg, Getzlaf, and Manson, while Russell and Theodore get the honorable mentions. The series still favors the Oilers 2-1.
Game 4: Rogers Place, Edmonton, Alberta. In goal: John Gibson for the Ducks and Cam Talbot for the Oilers. Edmonton opened in the first period with a Milan Lucic power play goal, his second of the postseason, powered by Leon Draisaitl and Mark Letestu. The Oilers added on with a Connor McDavid goal, his fourth of the playoffs, helped along by Draisaitl and Patrick Maroon. Anaheim got on the board in the second period with a Ryan Getzlaf goal, his sixth of the postseason, coming off of Brandon Montour. The Ducks tied it on a Rickard Rakell goal, his fourth of the playoffs, with assists provided by Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Anaheim took the lead on a Getzlaf goal, his second of the game and seventh of the postseason, going in unassisted. Edmonton tied it on a Drake Caggiula goal, via Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Maroon in the third period. The Ducks won 4-3 in overtime with a Jakob Silfverberg goal, his seventh of the playoffs, thanks to Getzlaf. The three stars were Getzlaf, Silfverberg, and Maroon, while Draisaitl gets an honorable mention. The series heads back to California tied at 2.
Game 5: Honda Center, Anaheim, California. In goal: Cam Talbot for the Oilers and John Gibson for the Ducks. Edmonton dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Leon Draisaitl goal, his third of the postseason, assisted by Oscar Klefbom and Adam Larsson. The Oilers added on with a Connor McDavid power play goal, his fifth of the playoffs, powered by Mark Letestu and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Edmonton extended the lead as Drake Caggiula scored his second of the postseason, thanks to McDavid and Kris Russell. Anaheim got on the board with a Ryan Getzlaf goal, his eighth of the playoffs, helped along by Jakob Silfverberg and Ryan Kesler. The Ducks got closer with a Cam Fowler goal, passed from Silfverberg and Corey Perry. Anaheim tied it on a Rickard Rakell goal, his fifth of the postseason, made possible by Perry and Fowler. The Ducks won 4-3 in the second overtime with a Perry goal, his second of the playoffs, via Getzlaf and Rakell. The three stars were Perry, Rakell, and Fowler, while Getzlaf, Silfverberg, and McDavid get the honorable mentions. The Ducks leave home again with a 3-2 series lead.
Game 6: Rogers Place, Edmonton, Alberta. In goal: John Gibson for the Ducks and Cam Talbot for the Oilers. Edmonton started in the first period with a Leon Draisaitl goal, his fourth of the postseason, via Adam Larsson. The Oilers added on with a Draisaitl goal, his second of the game and fifth of the playoffs, passed from Milan Lucic and Darnell Nurse. Edmonton chased Gibson with a Zack Kassian goal, his third of the postseason, coming off of Mark Letestu and Griffin Reinhart. The Oilers extended the lead against Jonathan Bernier as Letestu scored his fourth of the playoffs, thanks to Kris Russell and David Desharnais. Edmonton padded the lead on a Letestu power play goal, his second of the game and fifth of the postseason, powered by Matt Benning and Draisaitl. The Oilers continued in the second period on an Anton Slepyshev goal, his third of the playoffs, fueled by Patrick Maroon and Draisaitl. Anaheim got on the board with a Rickard Rakell goal, his sixth of the postseason, helped along by Corey Perry and Cam Fowler. Edmonton shot back with a Draisaitl power play goal, completing his hat trick on his sixth of the playoffs, with assists provided by Lucic and Letestu. This stood for the eventual 7-1 final, with the three stars awarded to Draisaitl, Letestu, and Lucic. The series heads back to California one more time tied at 3.
Game 7: Honda Center, Anaheim, California. In goal: Cam Talbot for the Oilers and John Gibson for the Ducks. Edmonton struck first in the first period with a Drake Caggiula goal, his third of the postseason, going in unassisted. Anaheim tied it in the second period with an Andrew Cogliano goal, passed from Ryan Kesler and Brandon Montour. The Ducks took the lead in the third period with a Nick Ritchie goal, his second of the playoffs, courtesy of Sami Vatanen and Corey Perry. This stood for a 2-1 win, with the three stars being Ritchie, Gibson (23 for 24 in saves), and Cogliano. The Ducks win the series 4-3, and will face the Nashville Predators in the Western Conference Final.