Oilers cruise, force Game 7 with Ducks
Leon Draisaitl had three goals and two assists, Mark Letestu added two goals and two assists, and the host Edmonton Oilers rolled to a 7-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday, forcing a decisive Game 7 in their Western Conference semifinal series.
“Obviously, the season was on the line and we all had to step it up a notch and the whole group did,” Draisaitl said.
Game 7 is Wednesday at Anaheim. The winner will face the Predators in the conference finals.
The Oilers won twice in Anaheim to open this series and narrowly lost Game 5 there in double overtime.
“The big test is coming up,” Edmonton head coach Todd McLellan said. “We’re going to have to park this one quickly and get ready for a big battle down there.”
The Ducks head back to Southern California looking to end a trend after losing a Game 7 at home for four straight years.
“Half of the guys in here haven’t been here for that stuff,” Anaheim captain Ryan Getzlaf said. “We’re going back with the preparation to be ready for a big game. It doesn’t really matter what the situation is. It is still win or go home.”
Zach Kassian and Anton Slepychev also scored and Cam Talbot stopped 34 shots for the Oilers, who led 5-0 after the first period.
Rickard Rakell scored midway through the second period for Anaheim. John Gibson was pulled after giving up three goals on six shots less than 8½ minutes into the game. Jonathan Bernier finished with 25 saves.
“I wasn’t very good,” Gibson said. “I have to come up with a couple of saves and maybe it’s different, maybe it’s not. As it went on, they kind of took it to us; it wasn’t our best. I wasn’t as good as I wanted to be and I kind of let them down.”
The Oilers rebounded after failing to hold a three-goal lead with four minutes remaining in regulation in Game 5.
“We knew we had to keep our foot on the gas pedal, and the hockey gods gave us a chance in Game 7,” Edmonton forward Milan Lucic said. Predators 3, Blues 1: Ryan Johansen scored the go-ahead goal 3:15 into the third period as host Nashville beat St. Louis to win the series in six games and advance to the West finals for the first time.
Pekka Rinne made 23 saves and had an assist. Roman Josi had a goal and an assist, and Calle Jarnkrok added an empty-netter with 60 seconds left.
“It’s a big step for the franchise,” Josi said. “This is such a great city, such a great hockey city, I think people finally recognize that. Our fans are unbelievable.”
Goalie Jake Allen kept the Blues close, stopping Filip Forsberg on a breakaway with 13:31 left, before Jarnkrok’s goal put the game out of reach.
“We’re halfway there,” Nashville defenseman Ryan Ellis said. “We’ve still got a ton of work to do. Enjoy it tonight and get ready for the next series.”