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Playoffs		Playoffs

On To Round 2

Edmonton finished off the San Jose Sharks by a 3-1 score on Saturday night.  The win gave the Oilers their first playoff series victory in nearly eleven years.  Tonight, they'll begin a brand new series against the 2016-17 Pacific Division Champions in Anaheim.  Can the Oilers take out two teams from California in the same playoff year?

Let's go to the tape.

The Oilers are saying

"How is it going to be different?  No.1, they're rested, which works in their favour"

Source

That's Oilers head coach Todd McLellan on the big difference between Anaheim and San Jose

Another key difference?  San Jose was banged up.  With Logan Couture having a smashed face and Joe Thornton not being at 100%, a significant amount of San Jose's offence was lacking.

The opponents are saying

RC said Fowler, Lindholm and Vatanen are all "very close" and player's decisions for Game 1. Fowler said he had "no restrictions."

— Eric Stephens (@icemancometh) April 25, 2017

Anaheim is about to get a huge help to their defence.  Cam Fowler (knee),  Hampus Lindholm (undisclosed) and Sami Vatanen (upper body) are all very likely to suit up for game 1 of tonight's series.

Have some of this

ICYMI, Klefbom felt "almost back to normal" after today's #Oilers practice & fully expects to play in Game 1: https://t.co/w1x93IEdfY pic.twitter.com/UM0xISjFzN

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) April 26, 2017

Oscar Klefbom was relegated to the bench during the third period of Saturday's series-clinching victory due to an illness.  The good news is that he appears to be all but over it.  Any significant time missed by Klefbom would wreck havoc on the Oilers' blue line.

STREAKING:  The Ducks are hot right now.  They haven't lost in regulation since March 10th versus St. Louis.  They went 11-0-3 since then and took care of the Calgary Flames in four straight games.

PENALTY WATCH: Sharks went 0/3 on their power play Saturday night.  The Oilers would do well to limit Anaheim's chances with the man advantage.  Allowing six or seven power play chances to the Sharks was bad business, though San Jose's power play finished just 25th on the season.

That's quite the sign.

Kinda jumps off the screen, doesn't it? (Photo by @alcharestPHOTO) #CGYvsANA pic.twitter.com/JoXNQ7c2qi

— Michael Wood (@MichaelRHWood) April 18, 2017

Cam Talbot (4-2, .927 SV% / 2.03 GAA / 2 SO) will get the start tonight for Edmonton, while John Gibson (3-0, .926 SV% / 2.60 GAA) will get the nod for Anaheim.

#GOILERS