Ducks Return Home With Momentum, Game 3 Could Swing the Series

The Ducks return to Honda Center with the series tied and a chance to seize early control in Round 1 against the Oilers. After New Orleans? No — Anaheim has already shown it can answer pressure, and Game 3 now gives the club a first playoff home game at Honda Center in eight years.

Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. PT, with local coverage on KCOP-13 and Victory+, and national coverage on TNT. The setting matters for Anaheim, which finished the regular season 24-13-4 at home and enters Friday looking to turn Wednesday’s road win into a larger series edge.

Anaheim carries momentum back home

The Ducks evened the series with a 6-4 win in Edmonton after overcoming the kind of game flow that can swing playoff series. Cutter Gauthier led the way with three points, including Anaheim’s first goal and the decisive score with just under five minutes left.

That finish reflected a team trait that has become central to Anaheim’s postseason identity. As Gauthier put it, “we’re never out of a single game,” a view that fits a club that has repeatedly shown the ability to recover when games change quickly.

Ryan Poehling also played a major role with two goals, including a short-handed marker in the second period and an empty-net goal late in the third. Anaheim’s penalty kill added another layer to the performance, holding Edmonton scoreless on four power-play chances.

Special teams and structure have mattered

The Ducks did more than just trade scoring chances in Game 2. They also limited Edmonton’s biggest names and kept Connor McDavid off the scoresheet through the first two games of the series.

That defensive work has helped Anaheim stay within reach in a matchup that could otherwise tilt quickly. The Oilers still bring high-end talent and speed, but the Ducks have shown they can disrupt rhythm and survive key stretches without losing composure.

Joel Quenneville’s team will keep the same lineup for Game 3, with Radko Gudas still out because of a lower-body injury. Troy Terry remains available after missing morning skate for maintenance, which gives Anaheim some continuity as the series shifts to a different building.

Home ice adds a new layer to the matchup

The Ducks are eager to take advantage of a crowd that has waited a long time for this kind of game. Quenneville said the building should be loud and called it a chance for the group to play “a playoff game here that’s got some meaning,” while Alex Killorn pointed to using “the momentum from the last game” and feeding off the home crowd.

Anaheim’s regular-season record at Honda Center suggests the venue can help support that goal. The Ducks were steady at home all season, and the combination of comfort, energy, and familiarity now becomes part of the series equation.

Edmonton’s status also bears watching, though not every update favors the visiting side. Kris Knoblauch said Jason Dickinson is a game-time decision, while Adam Henrique will miss the two games in Anaheim after not traveling with the team.

For the Ducks, the focus is straightforward: build on the response shown in Game 2, keep pressure on the Oilers’ top players, and use the home atmosphere to push the series further in their favor. Friday’s matchup now offers Anaheim a clear chance to convert resilience into an edge on home ice.