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Sunday, April 30, 2017

{allcanada} 5 Keys: Ducks at Oilers, Game 3

 

DUCKS at OILERS

7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports

Oilers lead best-of-7 series 2-0

EDMONTON -- The Edmonton Oilers have an opportunity to take a 3-0 series lead in the Western Conference Second Round against the Anaheim Ducks at Rogers Place after winning the first two games on the road.

It's the fifth time Edmonton has taken a 2-0 lead on the road and second time they have done it against Anaheim (2006). The Oilers went on to win each series.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, teams that take a 2-0 lead in a best-of-7 series go on to win 88.6 percent of the time (309-48) and teams that win the first two games on the road go on to win the series 79.3 percent of the time (69-18).

Here are 5 keys for Game 3:

 

1. Keeping things clear for Cam Talbot

Talbot made 39 saves in a 2-1 win in Game 2 when Edmonton was outshot 40-23. The Oilers defensemen have done a good job of clearing the front of the net in the first two games, allowing Talbot to see most of the shots he's faced.

"I think that was one of the best things that we did in that last game," Talbot said Sunday. "We gave up a lot of shot volume, but everything from the outside, for the most part, I was able to see and track it."

 

2. Contributions throughout lineup for Oilers

The Ducks expended a lot of energy trying to contain Oilers captain Connor McDavid in the first two games and limited the NHL's leading scorer to one assist. Despite his lack of production, Edmonton managed to win the first two games by getting offensive contributions from other players.

"We're up 2-0 coming home that all that really should matter," McDavid said. "We're a very deep team, I've said that before and I'll definitely said it again. We're a very deep team and we have guys that can produce offense."

 

3. Ryan Getzlaf raising game

Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf elevated his play in the third period of Game 2 and although he did not have a point, he finished with five shots on goal in 26:47 of ice time. The Ducks need a similar performance from their captain in Game 3 to try and get back in the series.

"[Getzlaf] has been a special player since he entered the League," coach Randy Carlyle said. "I think in the situations that he's been presented, he's shown that he can and will take the next level if it's required. Obviously in our situation we need more people taking his lead, following what he's doing."

 

4. More needed from Corey Perry

Perry has three points (one goal, two assists) in six Stanley Cup Playoff games and was not a factor in the first two against Edmonton.

"I think he's not any different than anyone else on our hockey club," Carlyle said. "I thought that he did some good things and I thought there were some opportunities he created. He's got to be that antagonizing guy that's going to go to the net and bring the puck from corners to the net and he can score, he can shoot. Corey has been a scorer all his life and we're asking not only Corey, but we're asking everybody."

 

5. Staying out of penalty trouble

Each team is trying to establish a physical presence without taking penalties. Edmonton was 3-for-9 on the power play in the first two games and Anaheim was 2-for-7.

"We've always been a team that plays hard and sticks up for each other and doesn't shy away from the rough stuff," Ducks forward Andrew Cogliano said. "But at the end of the day, the penalties after the whistle, the penalties that are undisciplined kill you at this time of year and they've killed us throughout it."

 

Ducks projected lineup

Nick Ritchie -- Ryan Getzlaf -- Patrick Eaves

Andrew Cogliano -- Ryan Kesler -- Jakob Silfverberg

Rickard Rakell -- Nate Thompson -- Corey Perry

Chris Wagner -- Antoine Vermette -- Logan Shaw

Cam Fowler -- Brandon Montour

Hampus Lindholm -- Josh Manson

Shea Theodore -- Korbinian Holzer

Scratched: Jared Boll

Injured: Simon Despres (concussion), Clayton Stoner (abdominal), Sami Vatanen (upper body), Kevin Bieksa (knee)

 
Oilers projected lineup

Patrick Maroon -- Connor McDavid -- Leon Draisaitl

Milan Lucic -- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- Jordan Eberle

Zack Kassian -- Mark Letestu -- Iiro Pakarinen

Benoit Pouliot -- David Desharnais -- Anton Slepyshev

Oscar Klefbom -- Adam Larsson

Andrej Sekera -- Kris Russell

Darnell Nurse -- Matt Benning

Cam Talbot

Laurent Brossoit

Scratched: Eric Gryba, Matt Hendricks, Jujhar Khaira, Griffin Reinhart

Injured: Tyler Pitlick (knee), Drake Caggiula (undisclosed)

 

Status report

Ritchie was a late scratch in Game 2 with the flu. He participated in the morning skate and will be a game-time decision … Caggiula, who left Game 2 with an undisclosed injury after crashing into the boards in the second period, is not expected to play. Pakarinen is expected to take his place in the lineup.

 

Who's hot

Draisaitl has seven points (two goals, five assists) in the past four games … Letestu has three goals in his past four games. … McDavid has three points in his past four games. … Getzlaf has seven points (four goals, three assists) and Silfverberg has five points (four goals, one assist) in six playoff games.

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