Anaheim Ducks vs. Edmonton Oilers Game 3 Preview
Where: Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB
When: Sunday, April 30, 2017, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Anaheim Ducks vs. Edmonton Oilers – view all NHL lines
TV Broadcast: NBCSN
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Betting on the Anaheim Ducks (0-2)
It’s quickly turning into desperation time for the Anaheim Ducks. They have now lost two consecutive games after an 18-game run since March 10 without a regulation defeat. They tried their hardest to even the series in Game 2 but luck just simply favored the Oilers in this contest. The Ducks out-shot, out-hit and won 60 percent of the faceoffs against the Oilers on Friday but goalie Cam Talbot (39 saves) just won’t let Edmonton lose.
Dropping the first two games at home isn’t a good sign for the beleaguered Ducks. Anaheim lost the first two games of a series at home twice in the previous three postseasons, eventually losing those series to the Nashville Predators and Los Angeles Kings. In fact, the last 16 NHL playoff teams to do so have gone on to lose the series. The Ducks, for that matter, have never recovered from a 0-2 series deficit in their storied history, losing all seven series after digging themselves that early hole.
That being said, don’t count the Ducks out just yet. Anaheim went 20-18-3 on the road this past regular season. The Ducks also are unbeaten on the road this postseason, going 3-0 against Calgary in the last round. They scored a whopping 12 goals in those three road matches so expect Anaheim to go down fighting in Game 3. One guy who needs to step up for Anaheim in Sunday’s crunch clash is Jakob Silfverberg. He was the only Ducks player to score against the excellent Talbot in Game 2. Silfverberg now has four goals this postseason, matching his career high from the 2015 playoffs in 10 fewer games.
The Ducks are 5-2 in their last seven road games against the Oilers.
Betting on the Edmonton Oilers (2-0)
Who saw the Oilers taking a 2-0 advantage against the Ducks heading back home to Edmonton? Probably no one. But that’s the situation they find themselves in heading into Sunday’s critical Game 3.
Edmonton goalie Cam Talbot has been spectacular in the series thus far, stopping 72 of the 76 shots the Ducks have thrown at him. Talbot now owns a 6-2 record in this postseason with a 2.02 goals-against-average and a .934 save percentage. It’s the fourth time in eight games that the 29-year-old has given up one goal or less in an outing. Talbot’s set to go back home, where he’s had a lot of success this season. He went 23-12-3 in 38 home starts, with a 2.32 GAA and .923 save percentage. The Oilers have gone 9-1 in Talbot’s last 10 home starts.
Another guy who’s stepping up big time for Edmonton right now is Patrick Maroon. He scored the game-winning goal in Friday’s win against the Ducks. Maroon finished the contest with a plus-1 rating, four shots on goal and two hits in 17:16 of ice time. Maroon now has two goals and two assists in eight games this postseason.
The Oilers are 9-1 in their last 10 home games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Ducks fight back with a gritty 3-2 road win in Game 3.
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