On Friday night, the Anaheim Ducks may have found a game they can build on.
Nick Ritchie scored with 17 seconds left in regulation to tie the Edmonton Oilers, 1-1, and force extra time.
Just 14 seconds into the extra session, Rickard Rakell scored to give the Ducks a 2-1 win.
“We’ve played so many close games this season, and to come out on top in this one sure feels good,” Rakell said.
John Gibson made 27 saves to keep the Ducks in the game and get the win.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored in the third period to give the Oilers a 1-0 lead.
With the victory, Anaheim improved to 10-9-5.
“We stuck with it at the end there,” Adam Henrique said. “Ritchie did a great job just getting out front and finding a way to put that one in.”
Rakell and Ritchie did great jobs getting their goals but the Oilers Connor McDavid and Leon Draisitl were weak on the forecheck and backcheck respectively on the game-winner in OT.
“I like that we’re just sticking with our game plan. We’re not getting away from everything. We’re trying to keep things simple, get pucks and bodies to the net, and we’re finding ways to get points,” Henrique said.
The Oilers dropped to 10-10-2.
“We can’t be upset about this game,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “We can be frustrated right now for a little bit, but we played a hard-fought 60 minutes and can take a lot of positives out of it.”
[WATCH: All Oilers vs. Ducks highlights]
Mikko Koskinen made 23 saves for the loss.
“There was no room anywhere on the ice. They played a tight-checking game. I thought we played a tight-checking game. Neither team had much room out there,” Kyle Brodziaksaid.
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