Oilers again win in Anaheim

Cam Talbot made 39 saves, Patrick Maroon scored a power-play goal, and the Edmonton Oilers moved halfway to the Western Conference finals with a 2-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 2 of their second-round series Friday night.

Andrej Sekera scored an early goal for the Oilers, who took the first two games on Pacific Division champion Anaheim’s home ice. Talbot was the difference in Game 2, making all manner of impressive saves while Anaheim dominated the last 30 minutes.

Jakob Silfverberg scored and John Gibson stopped 21 shots for the Ducks, who had gone 18 games without a regulation defeat before this series. Anaheim has never recovered from a 2-0 series deficit, losing all seven series after digging that early hole. Game 3 is Sunday in Edmonton. Edmonton’s first playoff appearance in 11 years is off to a rollicking start, with the Oilers following up their six-game defeat of the Sharks by taking two games from the five-time champions of their division. Blues 3, Predators 2: Vladimir Tarasenko scored twice, including the tie-breaking goal with 3:51 left, and host St. Louis tied the Western Conference semifinal series 1-1. Jori Lehtera also scored for the Blues, and Jake Allen stopped 22 shots — 14 in the third period. Ryan Ellis had a goal and an assist, and James Neal also scored for the Predators, whose five-game postseason winning streak was snapped. Briefly: Carolina acquired goalie Scott Darling from Chicago in exchange for a third-round draft pick . ... Pittsburgh wing Carl Hagelin, out since March 10 with a lower-body injury, could return for Saturday’s game at Washington. The Penguins said Hagelin will be a gametime decision.