The Edmonton Oilers are set to face the Anaheim Ducks in a first-round playoff series, a stark contrast to their 2017 encounter. This time, the veteran Oilers, fresh off a strong season finish, will confront a young, fast-paced Ducks squad.
The Ducks boast a core of top scorers averaging just 21 years old, including Cutter Gauthier and Leo Carlsson. Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins acknowledged their speed, stating, "We know in general they want to play a fast game, play on the run and on the go. That’s not how we want to play. We want to play tight defensively and make things really difficult for them and wait for our chances."
Edmonton, who finished second in the Pacific Division, enters the series with confidence after solidifying their defensive game in the final weeks of the regular season. "The push we had the last month or so, we’ve played a lot better," said veteran defenseman Mattias Ekholm. The potential return of forward Leon Draisaitl, sidelined since March 15, would further bolster the Oilers' offensive and defensive capabilities.
Head coach Kris Knoblauch noted Draisaitl's progress on the ice but remained non-committal on his availability for the opener. Despite the Ducks' skill and goaltending, the Oilers, buoyed by their recent performance and home-ice advantage, feel well-prepared. Captain Connor McDavid expressed confidence in the team's playoff acumen: "It takes skill to win in the playoffs, and we feel pretty good about having that skill, having been there and won a lot of playoff games."