The first chance to close their playoff series was a bust for the Anaheim Ducks.
The second opportunity will be Thursday on home ice when they play host to the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of their Western Conference first-round series.
“We’re going to be more ready for the first five, 10 minutes,” said forward Leo Carlsson on Wednesday. “We know that they’re going to come out hard, so we just have to match that energy.”
The Ducks had a golden opportunity to knock out the two-time defending Stanley Cup finalists, but Edmonton staved off elimination with a decisive 4-1 home-ice victory Tuesday.
The Oilers staked a 3-0 lead just past the 10-minute mark and Anaheim could not pull back into the clash despite holding a 24-8 edge in shots over the final two periods.
Anaheim still holds a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
“I always find in the course of a playoff series, there’s going to be one game that you want to throw in the can, you just didn’t have it up to par, and you’re wondering, ‘Why?'” coach Joel Quenneville said. “It happens, it seems like, every year in every playoff round.”
Certainly the Ducks have reasons to be positive. They won the first two clashes on home ice and their power play continues to sparkle — having converted seven times in the first five games (7-for-14).
Plus, they received an important lesson about closing out a team last outing.
“They had their best (against) a bunch of guys that never had a chance to close out a series,” Quenneville said. “We learned that you better be ready at puck drop.”
The Oilers, who have erased a handful of series deficits over the past few seasons, are full marks for keeping their hopes alive.
However, Edmonton still has a mountain to climb with the need to make that victory the first of three needed to reach the second round of the Stanley Cup chase.
That said, the mood was definitely brighter in the aftermath of the win and as the team headed to Southern California.
“You always feel good after a win. That definitely changes it,” coach Kris Knoblauch said. “After a loss, especially in overtime, heads are hanging and you feel down. A win, you’re thinking we only need two instead of three and the task doesn’t seem so difficult.”
Now to see whether the Oilers can claim another victory and push the series to a one-game showdown on home ice or if that win simply prolonged the execution.
“We’re still in a tough, tough spot, a really tough spot,” said captain Connor McDavid, who had two assists in Game 5. “We’ve got to find a way to win in a tough building. … You have to be grateful just getting to the next day. All we did is survive one more day. The pressure is still on us, but it’s a big game for them, too. I’m sure they’ll be feeling that, too.”
In his team’s favor is the club’s success as playoff series move along. Starting with the 2024 run to the finals, the Oilers have a 20-5 record in Games 4 through 7, and that includes their Game 4 loss against Anaheim.
Edmonton exudes confidence of a comeback in part because of that success as every playoff series continues.
“I’m sure you’ve heard this 1,000 times, when our backs are against the wall, we play good hockey,” said defenseman Evan Bouchard, who collected three assists in Tuesday’s win. “We did that (again).”
