Oilers-Ducks Preview: 3 players who could tip the scales

The Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers are set to duke it out for Pacific Division bragging rights in a second-round playoff series.

Here are three players who could make a huge impact and give their team the edge.

Rickard Rakell

In case you missed it, someone other than Corey Perry led the Ducks in goals this season for the first time in five years, and by a wide margin. That would be Rakell, who broke out to the tune of 33 goals in 71 games, with Jakob Silfverberg coming in a distant second with 23.

Rakell has remained productive in the postseason, recording two goals and three assists in Anaheim's four-game sweep of the Calgary Flames.

A big factor in the Swede's surge has been the shift from center to the wing, where he's found success playing alongside Ryan Getzlaf, who drew the primary assists on both of Rakell's goals against the Flames. It's not his natural position, but he's taking advantage.

"Playing more on the wing this year gives me different looks and more opportunities to score," Rakell said in late March, per Jared Clinton of The Hockey News. "It gives me more of a chance to find rebounds and have the puck closer to the net. It’s obviously easier to score from there."

Credit goes to head coach Randy Carlyle for making the adjustment and helping Rakell find his wings.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

It might sound odd to pump the tires of a player who failed to record a single point in the opening round, but here we are.

In truth, Nugent-Hopkins was one of the most important contributors in the Oilers' series win over the defending Western Conference champion San Jose Sharks.

Flanked by Milan Lucic and Jordan Eberle, Nugent-Hopkins led Edmonton with 17 shots over the six games, and created several other chances that just didn't click. But for head coach Todd McLellan, the center's contributions at the other end of the ice have been equally important.

"He has the tools to be a tremendous two-way player. When you’re chosen at that spot in the draft (first overall in 2011), you often come in as a one-dimensional, offensive-type player," McLellan said, per Reid Wilkins of CHED 630.

"In his situation here, he was thrust into that role, and he produced, and that’s the way he was going to go. He had some good years, but the team didn’t win a lot. It’s always about the team. He’s been able to adjust and learn a few things."

While paying in that two-way role and being counted on to shut down the opposition, Nugent-Hopkins was a positive possession player against the Sharks, meaning he was on the ice for more shot attempts for than against.

If his line can start finishing its scoring chances, and if Nugent-Hopkins starts putting up points - thereby relieving some pressure from Connor McDavid - these Oilers could be a force.

John Gibson

When the Ducks traded Frederik Andersen to the Toronto Maple Leafs last summer, it was with the intention to give Gibson - who's long been thought to be the heir apparent in Anaheim - the starting job.

In his first full season in that starting role, Gibson impressed with a record of 25-16-9 and a .924 save percentage, but was slowed through March with a lower-body injury. Backup Jonathan Bernier, who was indirectly acquired in the Andersen move, filled in admirably, but Gibson was always tabbed as the main man in net when healthy, and largely proved himself worthy against the Flames.

In three of the four games, Gibson stopped 101-of-106 shots against, good for a save percentage of .953. His series numbers were brought down by a poorer showing in Game 3, in which he was yanked after allowing four goals on 16 shots.

Provided that one start was a blip, Gibson appears ready to backstop the Ducks to new heights, fully justifying the decision to anoint him as the team's goalie of the present and future.

Betting Line

(Odds courtesy: Bodog)

Prediction

The Ducks have flown under the radar in Carlyle's second tour of duty behind the bench, but there are reasons why Anaheim rose to the top of a competitive Pacific Division and earned home-ice advantage in this series.

For one, and as mentioned above, this isn't just Getzlaf and Perry's team, as the Ducks boast the kind of veteran savvy and youthful exuberance that takes teams deep into the playoffs.

On the blue line, for example, the likes of Shea Theodore and Brandon Montour have stepped up and in for the injured Cam Fowler and Sami Vatanen. The latter two could return any day, giving the Ducks seemingly impenetrable depth on the back end.

And up front, the scoring of Rakell and Silfverberg is balanced out by the shut-down ability of Ryan Kesler, who recently earned a nod as a Selke Trophy finalist, as well as Antoine Vermette, who remains a force in the faceoff circle. And Patrick Eaves, by the way, is looking like the best trade deadline pickup of them all at this point.

Make no mistake, the Oilers are an up-and-coming force, but these Ducks are skilled, tough, and hungry, and their experience will thwart Edmonton's surge - for the time being at least.

Ducks in six.

Schedule

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)