The Anaheim Ducks will look to continue their unbeaten start when they host the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday in a rematch from last season’s Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Ducks eliminated Edmonton in six games in the first round, as the Oilers made an early exit after reaching the previous two Stanley Cup Finals. Between the regular season and postseason, the Oilers are winless in their last six visits to Anaheim.
Oilers forward Vasily Podkolzin views the playoff matchup as “something we did not finish” and is eager for revenge in this growing Pacific Division rivalry.
“They’re competitive guys and I love to play against them, they always compete,” Podkolzin said. “We’re going to hate each other after the playoffs, and that’s why we are so excited to play against them.”
After a season-opening 6-5 overtime loss to the visiting Vancouver Canucks, the Oilers rebounded with back-to-back victories. Edmonton had another barn burner in Thursday’s 9-7 win over host Vancouver, then a more normal 3-1 win at home against the Seattle Kraken on Saturday.
As expected, star center Connor McDavid has driven Edmonton’s offensive barrage. McDavid has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in the Oilers’ first three games. Defenseman Evan Bouchard isn’t far behind McDavid in the league scoring chart, with four goals and four assists.
Forward Jason Dickinson could make his season debut as early as Wednesday. Dickinson missed training camp and the Oilers’ first three games because of a nagging ankle injury dating back to last season.
Devon Levi started both of Edmonton’s wins and will get the nod in net again Wednesday against Anaheim, coach Mike Babcock confirmed Tuesday. Tristan Jarry will start Saturday at San Jose, while the starter for Tuesday’s game at Los Angeles has yet to be determined.
The 2-0-0 Ducks were outshot 61-40 over their first two games but emerged with a pair of one-goal victories. Anaheim opened the season with a 4-3 win over the host Vegas Golden Knights on Friday, and then needed Mikael Granlund’s overtime goal to clinch Sunday’s 3-2 victory over the visiting Florida Panthers.
All three of Anaheim’s goals on Sunday came on the power play, signaling improvement with the man advantage. The Ducks’ power-play unit has long been a weak link, and their 18.6% power-play percentage last season ranked 23rd of 32 teams.
On the penalty kill this season, the Ducks are 6-for-7 due to what defenseman Travis Mitchell described as a simplified approach.
“(We’re) just kind of sticking to what we’re told, the structure, different things like that. Applying pressure and then just trying to get (opponents) off their game,” Mitchell told the Hockey News.
Leo Carlsson leads the Ducks in assists (four) and points (five). The only Anaheim player with multiple goals this season is Cutter Gauthier, who has scored twice.
Lukas Dostal has posted a 2.42 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage in two starts, and will likely be in net again on Wednesday. Backup goalie Ville Husso’s first appearance of the season will likely be saved for Friday or Saturday, when the Ducks face the Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames in back-to-back games.
–Field Level Media