Ducks take 2-1 series lead with 7-4 victory over Oilers in Anaheim

The Anaheim Ducks have taken a 2-1 series lead after defeating the Edmonton Oilers 7-4 in Game 3 in Anaheim.

The Oilers opened the series with a 4-3 win in Edmonton on Monday, before the Ducks leveled the series with a 6-4 win in Game 2 on Wednesday.

Vasily Podkolzin opened the scoring in Game 3, giving the Oilers the lead in the first on a wrist shot past Lukas Dostal.

The goal would come after the Ducks were unable to capitalize on a few chances early in the first, and were outshooting the Oilers 11-3.

The Oilers’ lead wouldn’t last long, as three minutes and five seconds later, Mason McTavish tipped a shot from Drew Helleson, bouncing the puck off the ice, then over Connor Ingram’s arm, making it 1-1.

Just 87 seconds later, Mikael Grandlund would capitalize on a rebound in the slot, putting the puck past Ingrah, to give the Ducks a 2-1 lead late in the first. The goal came on a power play, after Josh Samanski took a high-sticking penalty.

Just under four minutes into the second period, Leon Draisaitl would send a backhand pass into the slot, finding Kasperi Kapanen, who would fire a shot past Dostal to make it 2-2.

About a minute and a half later, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins would collect a rebound off a blueline shot from Evan Bouchard, giving the Oilers the lead.

Just past the 12-minute mark of the second, Alex Killorn would tie the game back up, jamming home a rebound, to make it 3-3.

With 3:25 to go in the second, the Ducks thought they retook the lead as Granlund batted the puck out of the air, but the officials quickly called the goal off, saying it was hit by a high stick.

Seconds later, the Ducks had a two-on-one rush, but Ingram managed to get across the crease to deny the opportunity. That chance was followed by a pair of Oilers rushes, which also didn’t result in anything.

Beckett Sennecke would regain the lead for the Ducks, wristing a shot past Ingram, after Bouchard’s pass would be picked off by Granlund.

Forty-two seconds later, the Ducks would get a two-on-one opportunity on another Edmonton turnover. Troy Terry would feed Leo Carlsson, who would then work the puck around Ingram to make it 5-3 for Anaheim.

Connor McDavid would finally get on the scoresheet, cutting the Ducks’ lead in half on a power play, after his shot deflected off a Duck’s defender and over the shoulder of Dostal. The first point for the Oilers captain would come 168 minutes and 36 seconds into the series.

Late in the third, Jeffrey Viel would score on a backhand shot to give the Ducks a two-goal lead.

Jackson Lacombe would add an empty goal to make it 7-4, securing the Ducks’ victory in Game 3.

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