Ducks move into second in Pacific with win over Oilers

Funny how the schedule gods always know what teams to match up as the season comes to an end and points become precious and ladder positions change.

On Wednesday night, the Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks, who are locked in a duel for positioning in the Pacific Division, met in Anaheim with the Ducks prevailing, 4-3.

The win pushed the Ducks into second place in the division ahead of the Oilers.

Hampus Lindholm led the way with a goal and three points.

“You knew it was going to be a tough game because it was going to be a playoff-type game,” said Lindholm, who’s in his fourth NHL season. “Those are the game you want to play.”

Jonathan Bernier made 29 saves in the win as the Ducks are 4-0-1 in their five games.

Rickard Rakell, Josh Manson and Patrick Eaves also scored for the Ducks who had to rally from a slow start in the first period.

“We weren’t very happy with our first period, but the team responded like we wanted to,” Getzlaf said.

The Oilers had goals from Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Mark Letestu .

“In the second, we let off the gas,” Draisaitl said. “Sometimes, you’ve got to give credit to the other team too.”

The Ducks defense was lax in the first period and allowed the Oilers to run the show most of the first twenty minutes.

“We didn’t have a good first period, but we changed our attitude from the second period on. We ground it out,” Anaheim head coach Randy Carlyle said.

From there, the Ducks tightened up and scored twice in the middle frame to take a 4-2 lead into the third period.

“I thought we did a good job finding ways to produce. We just didn’t shut it down enough,” McDavid said,

Letestu’s goal came as time was winding down with the Oilers on a 6-on-3 power play.

WATCH: All Oilers vs. Ducks highlights

The NHL’s hook was sent out for Cam Talbot despite his recent success of back-to-back shutouts; he yielded four goals on 18 shots and was pulled in favor of aurent Brossoit.

“The first one I’m sure he would be willing to take back, but after that there were some hard shots,” Edmonton coach Todd McLellan said. “The last guy I’m going to complain about is Cam Talbot.”