Written by Tim Campbell at NHL.com
Adam Larsson scored twice in the third period, including the tiebreaking goal with 4:40 remaining, and the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5-3 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Second Round at Honda Center on Wednesday.
Leon Draisaitl had a goal and three assists for the Oilers. Mark Letestu scored twice, and Cam Talbotmade 33 saves.
Game 2 of the best-of-7 series will be played at Honda Center on Friday (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TVA Sports, SN).
After skating from his own end with the puck, Larsson appeared to be going around the Anaheim net but slid it in front, where it deflected off the skate of Ducks defenseman Josh Manson and went past goalie John Gibson to give the Oilers a 4-3 lead.
“That was probably the best-case scenario,” Larsson said. “I was just trying to get a scrum there in front of the net and I was lucky they kicked it in.”
Larsson entered Game 1 with one goal in 11 career Stanley Cup Playoff games. The 24-year-old Sweden-born defenseman scored a career-high four goals during this past regular season.
The Ducks, who rallied from 3-1 down in the third period on goals from Patrick Eaves and Jakob Silfverberg, were caught out of position when Larsson rushed the puck.
“We didn’t have our position in the neutral ice,” Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. “There’s no way we should allow Larsson to skate from the top of his circle into our zone unimpeded. We fell back and gave him the room that was necessary.”
Ryan Getzlaf also scored for the Ducks, who lost in regulation for the first time since March 10, a span of 19 games. The Ducks swept the Calgary Flames in four games in the first round of the playoffs.
Letestu scored his second power-play goal of the game at 6:23 of the third period, and Larsson followed at 8:03 to give the Oilers a 3-1 lead.
Getzlaf and Letestu each scored power-play goals in the second period.
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