Depth Goals Save Oilers, But Rookie Ducks Get a Win Of Their Own in Game 1

Connor McDavid didn’t speak after Monday’s Game 1 win by the Edmonton Oilers over the Anaheim Ducks. He didn’t have to for the media and fans to know he didn’t have his best stuff. Meanwhile, Leon Draisaitl returned to the lineup following an injury that kept him out 14 games, and was good, scoring two assists and looking ready to go. Even he admitted he was a step slower, and said, “I felt okay. Certainly going to take a couple games to really be myself and really trust myself again. But for a start, I thought it was okay.”

The overall feeling was that the Oilers’ top guys didn’t have it. McDavid, Evan Bouchard, Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and others were all held off the scoresheet. Many of them had forgettable performances. Some of them weren’t good at all. Instead, it was the depth that stepped up, with two goals from Kasperi Kapanen and Jason Dickinson each that made the difference.

Oilers Almost Gave the Game Away

After jumping out to a 2-0 lead and playing a nearly perfect first period, the Oilers collapsed in the second. Either they were overwhelmed by the Anaheim Ducks and their changed approach between frames, or the Oilers relaxed too much, allowing Anaheim to score three and take the lead.

But, as the Oilers often do in the playoffs, they found an extra gear when it mattered.

The tying goal by Dickinson and then a strike by Kapanen put the Oilers up 4-3. As the Ducks pulled their goalie, it was a great save by Connor Ingram, and some help from the hockey gods that the Ducks didn’t tie it with seconds to go and an empty net.

The Oilers held on to take Game 1. A win is a win, but there were lessons to learn all around. “You can’t let off the gas at all,” said Dickinson.

Ducks Are Aware They Can Hang With the Oilers

Edmonton didn’t have a dominant regular season, but they’re the favorites in this series. With a 1-0 series lead, that remains the case. That said, the Ducks put a chink in the Oilers’ armor.

The Ducks stormed back in the second period, showing they can limit the Oilers’ big guns and take it to Edmonton offensively. Anaheim knows it can and will compete in this series. Draisaitl said, “(The Ducks are) skilled. We knew that. They can score, they’re good off the rush, and they can all skate. It’s a good hockey team. Not much else to say. Two good teams going at it. We’ll take it from there.”

Thirteen players on the Anaheim Ducks were playing in their first-ever Stanley Cup playoff game on Monday night, including goaltender Lukas Dostal. Needless to say, they’ve got that first one out of the way and have a taste of playoff of hockey. That’s good news for them, and bad news for the Oilers if Edmonton’s top guy can’t find a second gear.

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