Larsson, Letestu power Oilers past Ducks
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Adam Larsson and Mark Letestu each scored two goals, and Leon Draisaitl added a goal and three assists as the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5-3 in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series.
Cam Talbot made 33 saves for the Oilers.
Draisaitl's empty-net goal at 18:55 of the third period sealed the victory.
Ryan Getzlaf registered a goal and an assist for the Ducks, and Ryan Kesler added two assists. John Gibson made 27 saves.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is scheduled for Friday in Anaheim.
The Oilers, who blew a 3-1 lead in the middle of the third period, went up 4-3 on Larsson's second of the game at 15:20. Larsson rushed the puck and as he was about to go behind the Anaheim net, the tossed it toward the front of the net, and it glanced off Ducks defenseman Josh Manson and past Gibson.
Earlier in the period, Anaheim tied the game by scoring two goals in a space of 1:25. Patrick Eaves scored his second goal of the playoffs at 9:09 on a rebound off a Brandon Montour shot, and Jakob Silfverberg converted a goalmouth scramble for his third goal of the postseason.
Edmonton expanded its lead to 3-1 on Larsson's first goal of the playoffs at 8:23 of the third period. Draisaitl penetrated deep into the Anaheim zone, and with the Ducks backing off, he fed Larsson, who was left along in the slot for a one-timer that cleanly beat Gibson.
The Oilers took a 2-1 lead on Letestu's second power-play goal of the game and third tally of the playoffs at 6:23 of the third period. The goal was similar to his first score, converting a rebound of a Draisaitl shot with Connor McDavid earning the secondary assist.
Edmonton tied the game at 1 on Letestu's second goal of the playoffs during a five-on-three power play at 6:22 of the second period.
The Ducks took a 1-0 lead on Getzlaf's fourth goal of the playoffs on the power play at 36 seconds of the second period.
NOTES: Edmonton scratched D Mark Fayne, D Griffin Reinhart, C Matt Hendricks, RW Iiro Pakarinen, C Anton Lander, LW Jujhar Khaira, D Eric Gryba, D Jordan Oesterle, D Joey Laleggia and G Nick Ellis. ... Anaheim did not dress D Korbinian Holzer, D Simon Depres, RW Jared Boll and D Sami Vatanen. ... Anaheim signed LW Jack Kopacka to a three-year entry level contract on Monday. A fourth round pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Kopacka set career highs in goals, 30, and points, 49 in the 2016-17 Ontario Hockey League regular season before adding five goals and 11 points in 11 playoff games.