A win in Edmonton may be required for a Ducks’ series victory
The Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers are the last teams in the Stanley Cup Playoffs to get their first-round series underway.
On Monday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, host Tyler Yaremchuk and co-host and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton discussed why Anaheim won’t have much time to search for its footing and experience in their first go at the Stanley Cup Playoffs with this young group.
Tyler Yaremchuk: Tonight game one, between the Oilers and Ducks out in my neck of the woods. It’s the very experienced playoff Oilers. It’s the young upstart Anaheim Ducks, who have a ton of guys who will be making their playoff debuts. Now the old saying is you’re never in trouble until you lose a game on home ice, but I’m gonna say, Hutts,. that there is some pressure on this Anaheim team in these first two games. I think if they go home from Edmonton down 2-0. I think it’s already on a wrap. I don’t think you’re gonna be able to beat Edmonton twice in your own building. The Oilers have proven over the last number of years that they are a very good road playoff team. So I will present you with the take that the Ducks must steal one of the first two games in Edmonton if they want a shot in that series. Do you think that’s an overreaction or is it fair?
Carter Hutton: No, I think it’s totally fair. I think the pressure is all there just with the pedigree of where this team is at, and again, I think since last year Stanley Cup final I’ve kind of had this hemming and hawing and question marks about what this Edmonton Oilers team is and where they’re at, and like the concern I think of McDavid being there and can they push back? But I think more than ever right now, the way this team is healthy and the way the team is structured, they’re in a good place. I think the question mark around goal-tending will be interesting, but I think Ingram is the guy, and he’s gonna go. And then you look at the fit right now, like, the way Hyman and Savoie are playing with McDavid. There’s a lot of positive to this team, and I just think this is like a David versus Goliath matchup ,too. Truthfully, I just think the experience here and speed of the Oilers is gonna be a bit overwhelming for the Ducks.
You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…