Anaheim’s lone goal in the 4-1 loss in Game 5 also came during a 5-on-4, and Gauthier’s power-play goal at 16:50 of the first period on Thursday provided Anaheim with a 3-1 lead, which turned out to be the game-winner in the 5-2 victory.
“Our power play, again, scored a very timely goal for us,” Quenneville said. “I think our special teams were special in this series and that made a big impact.”
Edmonton was 20th on the penalty kill during the regular season.
“We struggled on the PK all year,” Edmonton captain Connor McDavid said. “We’ve been searching for consistency there.”
The Oilers owned the No. 1 power play in the League heading into the playoffs (30.6), and finished 4-for-14 (28.6) in the series against the Ducks.
Edmonton also surrendered a short-handed goal in Game 2.
“I know, from the other side of things, you get confidence on the power play, and you just snap it around and you win the little battles and things go in for you,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “We understand how important special teams (are) in the playoffs. They obviously won that battle.”
Ducks assistant coach Ryan McGill took over the penalty kill this season after helping the New Jersey Devils finish second in the NHL in 2024-25 (82.7).
The Ducks only slightly improved their penalty kill from 29th in the NHL last season (74.2) to tied for 26th this season (76.4), but they were solid against the Oilers.
Anaheim did not have to kill any penalties in Game 6.
“Yeah, I liked our PK tonight,” Quenneville joked.