Oilers prevail over Ducks in action-packed Game 1

Put on a pot of coffee. The amazing six-week-long ride by the Ducks finally ended Wednesday, and their next ride just got a lot more interesting.

It was already a given that the Ducks and Edmonton Oilers would stage one of the most entertaining series of the playoffs, and Game 1 of their second-round series delivered.

Edmonton prevailed 5-3 on Adam Larsson’s second goal of the game, on a drive to the net and a shot that banked off Ducks defenseman Josh Manson with 4 minutes 40 seconds left that ended a 3-3 tie at Honda Center.

The Ducks took their first loss in regulation since March 10, which ended a remarkable 15-0-3 run over their previous 18 games.

“In reality, we really couldn’t think that we could win every game,” Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. “We’ve had so much success that … sometimes things are not going to go your way every night.

“But it stings because it’s a playoff game and we battled back and we had a lead in it, and we battled back from a 3-1 deficit to make it 3-3 in our building. Those are the positives you build on with your group. But we have to have more from our group for the next game. Simple as that.”

After a tightly contested opening two periods, the teams combined for six goals in the third period and more rushes of adrenaline than the sellout crowd cared to endure.

The Ducks stormed back from a 3-1 deficit on goals by Patrick Eaves and Jakob Silfverberg within 1:25 of each other in the third period. Eaves shot in a loose puck off Brandon Montour’s shot and Silfverberg batted the puck in off a rush to bring the arena back to euphoria midway through the third.

But that ended the scoring for the Ducks, who gave Edmonton five power plays and allowed two man-advantage goals.

“We’re getting five, six power plays a night [against us], and we’re not doing well on the penalty kill,” Ryan Getzlaf said.

The Ducks also took another hit to their defense as Kevin Bieksa suffered an apparent leg injury after he collided with teammate Shea Theodore in the first period. Bieksa returned shortly after but did not play in the third period.

“Lower-body injury,” Carlyle said. “He obviously didn’t finish the game, so he’ll have an evaluation done [Thursday] morning.”

Getzlaf got the crowd on its feet with his fourth goal in five playoff games in an example of his recent shoot-first mentality. He carried the puck into the zone on a power play and beat Oilers goalie Cam Talbot far side with his signature wrist shot 37 seconds into the second period.

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Ducks center Ryan Kesler and Oilers defenseman Andrej Sekera scuffle late in the third period.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Ducks goalie John Gibson falls to the ice during the third period after Oilers center Mark Letestu scored his second gosl of the game.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Oilers center Leon Draisaitl scores an empty-net goal in front of Ducks right wing Corey Perry late in the third period.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Ducks center Rickard Rakell whiffs on a potential game-tying goal late during the third period.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Ducks right wing Jakob Silfverberg scores aginst Oilers goalie Cam Talbot to tie the score 3-3 during the third period.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Ducks defenseman Josh Manson collides with Oilers left wing Patrick Maroon during the second period.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Ducks center Rickard Rakell and Oilers right wing Zack Kassian battle for the puck during the second period.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Ducks goalie John Gibson makes a save as Oilers left wing Anton Slepyshev is called for interference during the second period.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Ducks center Antoine Vermette battles for control of the puck against Oilers center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins during the first period.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Ducks goalie John Gibson tries to make a save as the puck hits the crossbar next to Oilers center Mark Letestu during the second period.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm and Oilers center Connor McDavid collide along the boards during the first period.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Ducks left wing Nick Ritchie and Oilers left wing Milan Lucic collide during e second period.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Ducks goalie John Gibson makes a save in front of Oilers right wing Zack Kassian during the first period.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Cam Fowler and Hampus Lindholm returned from knee and undisclosed injuries, respectively, and Fowler’s skating looked well in form in his first game since April 4. Sami Vatanen, who is recovering from an upper-body injury but was deemed available before the game by Carlyle, was scratched.

Fowler’s first game back was a loss, though. “It’s one game,” he said. “Credit to them. They took advantage. We have to come ready on Friday. That’s a big one for us.”

sports@latimes.com