Ducks to task Kesler with shutting down McDavid

ANAHEIM, California — Connor McDavid is about to get to know Ryan Kesler very well.

When the Edmonton Oilers visit the Anaheim Ducks for their second-round playoff opener tonight at Honda Center, all eyes will be on the Oilers’ 20-year-old superstar and the Ducks’ all-star centre, who is usually assigned to stop the world’s best players.

“[Kesler] has been up for the Selke [Trophy] for however many years in a row, so that speaks for itself,” McDavid said. “He understands his defensive role.”

Kesler centres the Ducks’ shutdown line alongside Jakob Silfverberg and Andrew Cogliano. After a fairly quiet playoff debut in the first round against San Jose, McDavid and regular linemate Leon Draisaitl are about to be tested by that trio in even more taxing ways.

“They’re playing against probably the best defensive line in all of the NHL,” said Edmonton’s Patrick Maroon, who was traded by the Ducks 14 months ago.

McDavid had just two goals — one an empty-netter — and two assists in six games against the Sharks, scoring just one point at even strength. Edmonton ran through the defending conference champions anyway, while the Ducks were impressively steady in a four-game sweep of Calgary.

While many NHL teams hesitate to match lines these days, particularly in the amplified intensity of the post-season, Ducks coach Randy Carlyle has been doing it all year with Kesler’s line. He intends to get his veteran trio on the ice early and often against McDavid, even when the Oilers have the last change in Edmonton.

“We all want to play against the best players and have the toughest matchups,” Silfverberg said. “[McDavid] is a fast skater, and he’s good with the puck. It’s going to be a challenge for everybody.”

Anaheim hasn’t lost a game in regulation since March 10 while winning its fifth consecutive Pacific Division title, but the Ducks finished just two points ahead of the Oilers.