Oilers-Ducks features elite matchup

Connor McDavid is about to get to know Ryan Kesler very well.

When the Oilers visit the Ducks for the opener of their Western Conference semifinal series Wednesday night at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., all eyes will be on the Oilers’ 20-year-old superstar and the Ducks’ All-Star center, 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 centers the Ducks’ shutdown line alongside Jakob Silfverberg and Andrew Cogliano. After a fairly quiet playoff debut in the first round against the Sharks, 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 the Oilers’ 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. The Oilers ran through the defending conference champions anyway, while the Ducks were impressively steady in a four-game sweep of the Flames.

While many NHL teams hesitate to match lines these days, particularly in the amplified intensity of the postseason, 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.”

Stastny ‘happy’ to be back: Blues center Paul Stastny believes he’s got no time to lose preparing for the Western Conference semifinal series against the Predators.

Being back on the ice, and back in action, is a relief after the Blues’ top center missed the final 10 games of the regular season and first four games of the first-round series victory over the Wild with a foot injury.

“I was just happy to be back on the ice with the boys,” Stastny said Monday of his return for the Game 5 series clincher Saturday. “After that long, you appreciate what they’re doing, but you also feel left out a little bit.”

Stastny, who scored in the Blues’ 4-3 overtime victory and won a team-high 13 faceoffs, said his foot is better.

“It feels good,” he said. “Every day’s been better. Haven’t had one day where it felt worse than the day before, so every day’s been a progression.”