Written by Tim Campbell at NHL.com
As the Edmonton Oilers collect experience through their first appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 11 years, they have come upon a lesson that grows in relevance by the day.
In Game 4 of the Western Conference Second Round against the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday, the Oilers saw firsthand how costly even the smallest of errors can be.
The Oilers had Rogers Place buzzing with a two-goal lead in the first period but stumbled in the second, watching the Ducks surge ahead 3-2.
“The difference here is that you’re down to the final eight and the other team gets in the way,” Oilers coach Todd McLellan said. “They’re a good hockey club. The eight teams that are playing deserve to be here and they’re all very, very strong so you don’t get away with a lot.”
A goal with 1:42 left in the third period by rookie Drake Caggiula tied the game 3-3, but the Ducks capitalized on some Edmonton puck mismanagement early in overtime, getting Jakob Silfverberg’s goal 45 seconds in to take a 4-3 win and tie the best-of-7 series 2-2.
Game 5 is at Honda Center on Friday (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports).
“We got the start we wanted, but shot ourselves in the foot in the second period,” Oilers captain Connor McDavid said. “We found a way to battle back, though.
“We had our swings. We carried the pace in the first period and that’s a good sign. We found a way to score a huge goal to send it into overtime, and that’s a positive.”
The good elements were wasted in Game 4, beginning with the crunch of the Ducks improved determination to start the second period.
“Their first one, we had some poor board work and they took advantage of it,” McLellan said. “They gained a little momentum at that point.”
That was the first of two goals by Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf, one McLellan challenged claiming goalie interference. The goal was upheld, costing the Oilers their timeout.
When Rickard Rakell scored at 5:33 of the second to tie it 2-2, the Ducks rush at the Edmonton blue line was very close to being offside, but McLellan had no option to challenge that call.
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