There are definitely two ways to look at Friday night’s Game 5 between the Anaheim Ducks and the Edmonton Oilers:
- An amazing comeback by the Ducks.
- A brutal collapse by the Oilers.
Well, both ways are probably accurate in this instance. The Oilers had a 3-0 lead entering the final four minutes of regulation. And lost the game.
Anaheim scored three goals in the final 3:16 of regulation to unbelievably send the game into overtime (and send the Honda Center crowd into a frenzy):
https://twitter.com/SInow/status/860729513566760961
Ducks scored three goals in final 3:16, the latest three goals have been scored to win/force OT in NHL postseason history, via @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/mMbaSf2aVh
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 6, 2017
Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli reacts:
Peter Chiarelli’s reaction to the Ducks’ tying goal was amazing pic.twitter.com/1SnRWUlppn
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) May 6, 2017
The game-tying goal — scored by Rickard Rakell with 15 seconds left — was a controversial one, as some people thought goaltender interference should’ve been called.
How is this not goalie interference. He's holding Talbot's pad? #Oilers #Ducks pic.twitter.com/D8vCu5nZiq
— Derek Van Diest (@DerekVanDiest) May 6, 2017
So Kessler can grab the pad on Talbot's leg but that isn't goaltender interference?
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) May 6, 2017
So now you can hang on to the goalies pad in the crease and that's okay #NHL#this is becoming a running joke
— Grant Fuhr (@grantfuhr) May 6, 2017
But the goal counted, and the game went to overtime. And with 13:03 left in the second overtime, Anaheim’s Corey Perry capped off the comeback with this game-winning goal:
This is the second time in NHL history that a team has erased a three-goal deficit in the final four minutes of regulation. The other team to do it? The Oilers!
Box Score from only other game in #StanleyCup Playoffs history that saw 3-goal rally in last 4:00 of reg to force OT https://t.co/6LjrV10F8X pic.twitter.com/FSB04phmzk
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 6, 2017
The win gives the Ducks a 3-2 series lead, and certainly gives them the momentum heading into Game 6. It will be interesting to see how the Oilers respond to this crushing loss.
[NBCSN]
