The Ducks’ Rickard Rakell, left, celebrates his game-winning overtime goal against Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mikko Koskinen on Friday at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Ducks’ Jakob Silfverberg pushes the Oilers’ Connor McDavid during the second period of Friday’s game at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Kalle Kossila #83 of the Anaheim Ducks skates with the puck past the defense of Kris Russell #4 of the Edmonton Oilers during the first period of a game at Honda Center on November 23, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Kris Russell #4, Darnell Nurse #25, and Mikko Koskinen #19 of the Edmonton Oilers defend against Nick Ritchie #37 of the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of a game at Honda Center on November 23, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Josh Manson #42 of the Anaheim Ducks skates with the puck past Leon Draisaitl #29 of the Edmonton Oilers during the first period of a game at Honda Center on November 23, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Darnell Nurse #25 and Kris Russell #4 of the Edmonton Oilers defend against Nick Ritchie #37 of the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of a game at Honda Center on November 23, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Jakob Silfverberg #33 of the Anaheim Ducks shoots the puck as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins #93 of the Edmonton Oilers defends during the first period of a game at Honda Center on November 23, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Jujhar Khaira #16 of the Edmonton Oilers battles Jakob Silfverberg #33 of the Anaheim Ducks for a loose puck during the first period of a game at Honda Center on November 23, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – NOVEMBER 23: John Gibson #36 of the Anaheim Ducks defends against Alex Chiasson #39 of the Edmonton Oilers during the second period of a game at Honda Center on November 23, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – NOVEMBER 23: John Gibson #36 and Jacob Larsson #32 of the Anaheim Ducks defend against Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers during the second period of a game at Honda Center on November 23, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Jake Dotchin #21 of the Anaheim Ducks pushes Milan Lucic #27 of the Edmonton Oilers during the second period of a game at Honda Center on November 23, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson, right, hits the puck away from Edmonton Oilers’ Zack Kassian during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Edmonton Oilers’ Darnell Nurse, center, shoots under defense by Anaheim Ducks’ Jake Dotchin during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Anaheim Ducks’ Josh Mahura, left, and Edmonton Oilers’ Milan Lucic fight for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Edmonton Oilers’ Adam Larsson, left, of Sweden, shoots as Anaheim Ducks’ Kiefer Sherwood watches during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Edmonton Oilers’ Kevin Gravel, left, shoots under pressure by Anaheim Ducks’ Jakob Silfverberg, of Sweden, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Edmonton Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl, top, of Germany, and Jacob Larsson, of Sweden, chase the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
ANAHEIM, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Ryan Getzlaf #15 of the Anaheim Ducks takes a shot on goal during the third period of a game against the Edmonton Oilers at Honda Center on November 23, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Anaheim Ducks’ Ondrej Kase, left, of the Czech Republic, shoots under defense by Edmonton Oilers’ Kevin Gravel during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
ANAHEIM, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Ondrej Kase #25 of the Anaheim Ducks battles Kevin Gravel #5 of the Edmonton Oilers for a loose puck during the third period of a game at Honda Center on November 23, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Anaheim Ducks’ Ondrej Kase, right, of the Czech Republic, and Edmonton Oilers’ Darnell Nurse chase the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mikko Koskinen, right, of Finland, loses his balance as he stops a shot by Anaheim Ducks’ Adam Henrique during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Edmonton Oilers’ Matt Benning, bottom, falls to the ice while fighting for the puck with Anaheim Ducks’ Nick Ritchie during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
ANAHEIM, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Kris Russell #4, Mikko Koskinen #19 and Darnell Nurse #25 of the Edmonton Oilers look on as Jake Dotchin #21, Pontus Aberg #20, Adam Henrique #14 and Josh Manson #42 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrate a goal that was later overruled during the third period of a game at Honda Center on November 23, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Mikko Koskinen #19, Kevin Gravel #5, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins #93 and Alex Chiasson #39 of the Edmonton Oilers defend against Jakob Silfverberg #33 of the Anaheim Ducks during the third period of a game at Honda Center on November 23, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Edmonton Oilers’ Matt Benning, bottom, falls to the ice while fighting for the puck with Anaheim Ducks’ Nick Ritchie during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
ANAHEIM, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Adam Larsson #6, Mikko Koskinen #19 and Adam Larsson #6 of the Edmonton Oilers are unable to stop a goal by Nick Ritchie #37 as Rickard Rakell #67 of the Anaheim Ducks looks on during the third period of a game at Honda Center on November 23, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Anaheim Ducks’ Nick Ritchie, right, and Ondrej Kase, of the Czech Republic, celebrate after Ritchie scored a goal to tie an NHL hockey game against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
ANAHEIM, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Ryan Getzlaf #15, Rickard Rakell #67 Ondrej Kase #25, and Adam Henrique #14 congratulate Nick Ritchie #37 of the Anaheim Ducks after his goal during the third period of a game against the Edmonton Oilers at Honda Center on November 23, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Mikko Koskinen #19 of the Edmonton Oilers looks on after allowing a goal by Nick Ritchie #37 of the Anaheim Ducks during the third period of a game at Honda Center on November 23, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Anaheim Ducks’ Rickard Rakell, right, of Sweden, moves the puck to score against Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mikko Koskinen, of Finland, in overtime of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. The Ducks won 2-1 in overtime. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Ducks’ Rickard Rakell, left, celebrates his game-winning overtime goal against Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mikko Koskinen on Friday at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Anaheim Ducks’ Rickard Rakell, of Sweden, celebrates his game-winning goal in overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Edmonton Oilers Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. The Ducks won 2-1. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Anaheim Ducks’ Nick Ritchie, right, celebrates his goal as he skates past Edmonton Oilers’ Zack Kassian during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. The Ducks won 2-1 in overtime. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
ANAHEIM, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Brandon Montour #26 and Ryan Getzlaf #15 react to an overtime winning goal by Rickard Rakell #67 of the Anaheim Ducks against the Edmonton Oilers in a game at Honda Center on November 23, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Matt Benning #83, Mikko Koskinen #19, Darnell Nurse #25, and Kyle Brodziak #28 of the Edmonton Oilers look on after being defeated by the Anaheim Ducks 2-1 in overtime of a game at Honda Center on November 23, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Ryan Miller #30, Jacob Larsson #32 , Brian Gibbons #23, Ryan Getzlaf #15, Josh Manson #42 and Andrew Cogliano #7 celebrate a goal by Rickard Rakell #67 of the Anaheim Ducks in the overtime period to defeat the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 ina game at Honda Center on November 23, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Leon Draisaitl #29 and Mikko Koskinen #19 of the Edmonton Oilers defend against Jakob Silfverberg #33 of the Anaheim Ducks during the third period of a game at Honda Center on November 23, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – NOVEMBER 23: The Edmonton Oilers and The Anaheim Ducks stand prior to a game as part of the Hockey Fights Cancer program at Honda Center on November 23, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM — Ryan Getzlaf beat Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers on the opening faceoff of overtime, sending Ducks teammate Brandon Montour retreating into his own zone. Jakob Silfverberg skated directly to the Ducks’ bench and Rickard Rakell jumped onto the ice and hit top speed in a nanosecond.
Montour whipped a flawless pass from below his own goal line to a hard-charging Rakell at the attacking blue line. Rakell left Draisaitl in his wake as he raced to the front of the Oilers’ net. Goaltender Mikko Koskinen denied Rakell’s first attempt, but not his second.
It took 60 minutes of regulation play to get to the five-minute extra period, but only 14 seconds for Getzlaf, Montour and Rakell to end it, enabling the Ducks to sneak away with a 2-1 victory over the Oilers in their annual Black Friday game at Honda Center.
Rakell’s goal was his fourth goal of the season and the 100th of his career, all with the Ducks. It also was his 22nd game-winner. He assisted on Nick Ritchie’s game-tying goal with 17 seconds left in the third period, with goalie John Gibson on the bench in favor of a sixth attacker.
“I got a little head start there, so I didn’t have to stop for the pass,” Rakell said. “I could skate right into it. Great play. I was stopping in front and looking for the puck. I just tried to get my stick on it before they did. I think it went 5-hole because his legs were spread out.”
Indeed, Rakell smacked the rebound between the legs of the 6-foot-7 Koskinen, who had covered most of the lower part of the net with his pads while doing the splits, but left just enough space for the puck to squeeze through and into the net.
The ending was simple and easy to digest, but how the Ducks and Oilers got there was another matter. The game was scoreless and sluggish for the better part of two-plus periods before Ryan Nugent-Hopkins put Edmonton in front with a power-play goal at 8:55 of the third.
Neither team generated much in the way of scoring chances. Neither team could take advantage of the other’s shortcomings. Neither team could overcome its sloppy and disjointed play. Neither team backed off, though. Neither seemed willing to yield an inch.
“It was a man’s game out there, really heavy and hard, and with a lot of board battles,” Edmonton coach Ken Hitchcock said.
Hitchcock, who was coaching his second game in an interim role after the Oilers fired Todd McLellan on Tuesday, would get no argument about the scrappy nature of the contest of wills with his Ducks counterpart, Randy Carlyle.
The Ducks have been pretty good while in survival mode the past two games, though. They built leads of 3-1 and 4-2 before holding off the Vancouver Canucks for a 4-3 victory Wednesday, and they rallied for a 2-1 win over the Oilers on Friday afternoon with a dash of grit and a flash of skill.
“It takes 60-plus minutes to get points in the NHL and (today) was a prime example,” Carlyle said after the Ducks improved to 10-9-5 and won consecutive games for only the third time this season, and the first since Oct. 14 over the St. Louis Blues and Oct. 17 against the New York Islanders.
“It wasn’t a hockey game we would say we executed at a high level.”
