Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf has torn the Oilers apart in three of four games in the second-round of the Stanley Cup players.
Hours before Game 5, his name was on the lips of players and coaches in both dressing rooms.
Oilers captain Connor McDavid and his teammates are focused on Friday’s crucial Game 5 of their playoff series against the Anaheim Ducks. (CBC)
After the two teams hit the ice for morning skates in Anaheim on Friday, everyone was talking about the six-foot-four centre, a gritty player Ducks fans love — and Oilers fans love to hate.
Ducks coach Randy Carlyle offered perhaps the best quote of the day when a reporter asked: “If you were on the other side, how would you plan or try to shut down Getzlaf.”
The coach laughed. He cocked his head toward the questioner.
Ducks coach Randy Carlyle offered a moment of levity Friday when asked about his star forward Ryan Getzlaf. (CBC)
“You really think I’m going to answer that?” he said with a chuckle. “I’ve said this before but I’ve never said it to a media person. Beat it.”
Getzlaf had two goals and two assists Wednesday in Game 4, giving him eight points for the series. Players on both teams had high praise for the Ducks emotional and on-ice leader.
“He’s a heck of a player,” said Oilers forward Patrick Maroon. “He’s been playing really good this year. That’s why he’s an elite player in this league. I feel like every Anaheim goal has been through Ryan Getzlaf. He’s been their head of the snake. So we have to find ways to limit him.”
Oilers on Getzlaf: ‘He’s been their head of the snake so we’ve got to find ways to limit him’1:14
Easier said than done.
“When he plays the way he’s doing right now, he’s pretty dominant,” said Ducks winger Rikard Rakell, who scored a second-period goal on Wednesday that tied the game. “His skill and his strength, it’s tough to defend him one on one.”
In the opinion of Oilers coach Todd McLellan, one on one is that last strategy he wants to team to adopt against Getzlaf.
“Who’s kidding who?” he said. “He’s a tremendous player. He’s got tremendous size, strength, skill, vision and experience. To think that one type of game or one guy is going to shut him down, it’s not going to happen that way. It’s going to have to be a group effort.”
Getzlaf’s great play “wasn’t something we were unaware of” going into the series, McLellan said.
“It’s just, dealing with it is obviously a problem, and it’s something we’d like to solve beginning tonight.”
Maroon was asked how to shut down his team’s arch-nemesis.
“Don’t even give him a half a second,” he said. “Because he’s a guy who has really good hands, really good skill, good vision in the ice, and he can make that pass really fast.
“Be in his face. If you hit him, finish him, but hold on to him a little bit longer than usual. Make sure he doesn’t get back to the net, or get back to open space.”