Ducks comeback versus Oilers could be most important ever
By Keith Rivas
The Ducks comeback in Game 5 has to rank among the best we’ve seen in recent years, if not ever.
Anaheim has struggled in clutch playoff moments in the past. Similar to how the Clippers flail in the postseason, the Ducks always appear to shoot themselves in the foot.
It seemed that way for nearly all of Game 5 versus Edmonton as well.
With just over three minutes remaining, the Ducks scored their first of what would be three miracle goals to tie things up before triple zeroes.
Ryan Getzlaf got the ball rolling for the Ducks, scoring first before the flurry of scores. Less than a minute after that goal, Cam Fowler found the back of the net to cut the deficit to one.
Then, with fifteen seconds remaining, a shot from Rickard Rakell got past Cam Talbot. From there, overtime was as high intensity as any playoff hockey game so far.
They are the first team to come back from a three goal deficit in the amount of time they managed to do so.
Corey Perry played like a man on a mission in the second overtime after the fourth period yielded no goals. Demoted to the third line in the past, Perry proved to be the hero the Ducks needed.
And at the same time, the hero that they weren’t expecting.
Should the Oilers have held on to their massive lead, the Ducks would’ve been against the wall. Cornering the division champs in a 3-2 hole would’ve helped Edmonton send them packing.
It’s a breath of fresh air for a franchise that looked headed for disappointment again. Whether or not they’ll get the series done on the road in Game 6 is up for grabs.
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All we can know for sure is that it’ll be hard, if not impossible, to top the heroics from Friday night in Anaheim.