Gibson, Ducks shut down Oilers
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Goalie John Gibson made a season-high 33 saves and Ryan Kesler scored his team-leading seventh goal in the Anaheim Ducks' 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night in front of 15,600 at the Honda Center.
Nick Ritchie, Cam Fowler and Antoine Vermette also scored while Corey Perry added two assists for the Ducks (8-6-3), who used their fourth win in sixth games to move into a first-place tie with the Oilers (9-7-1) in the Pacific Division.
Leon Draisaitl scored his fourth goal and goalie Cam Talbot stopped 23 shots for Edmonton, which now has its longest losing streak of the season at four successive defeats.
Ritchie gave the Ducks a 1-0 lead 7:43 into the game with his second goal in four games and his fourth of the season. After receiving Perry's pass near the Oilers' blue line, Ryan Getzlaf drew Darnell Nurse and Jordan Eberle to him before freeing Ritchie for a breakaway. Ritchie finished the play by depositing a wrist shot inside the left post.
The Oilers appeared to tie the score at 10:33, when Draisaitl deflected Matthew Benning's wrist shot from the blue line through Gibson's legs. But the blade of Draisaitl's stick was above his shoulder so his power-play goal was disallowed.
Anaheim expanded its lead to 3-0 in the second period by scoring twice within 5 1/2 minutes. Fowler completed a 3-on-2 rush with a wrist shot from the right point inside the left post for his fifth goal at 2:23. Kesler followed with his fifth goal in five games by converting the rebound of Perry's deflection in front of the net at 7:51.
Draisaitl enabled Edmonton to avoid the shutout with 1:46 left in the second period. Draisaitl stick-handled from behind the net to the left circle and sent a pass intended for Zack Kassian off Fowler's skate into the net.
Vermette scored his third goal nine minutes into the third period. Trailing a 2-on-1 breakaway, Vermette received Joseph Cramarossa's pass and propelled a wrist shot from the slot.
NOTES: Edmonton scratched RW Jesse Puljujarvi and D Dillon Simpson. ... Oilers LW Patrick Maroon has 23 points in just 31 games with Edmonton. The Oilers acquired Maroon from the Ducks in February. ... Oilers D Adam Larsson needs nine games for 300 in his career. ... Anaheim scratched D Korbinian Holzer. ... Ducks D Kevin Bieksa needs four assists for 300 in his career. ... Ducks C Chris Wagner cleared waivers after being placed on waivers Monday.