The first loss of the playoffs brings fans a reminder of how close the end might be. Each bad week, bad game, or bad bounce draws a team closer to the edge. Across Oil Country dread struck after Game 2, where the Anaheim Ducks tied the series. A wash as the series shifts to California.
Experience could still be a factor, as can injuries, but the Edmonton Oilers have a lot of promising signs heading forward. They have their share of woes, with most of the stars likely playing injured. Game 2 had sloppy elements, particularly an imbalance on special teams to the Oilers disadvantage. Clearly the Oilers will need to be better in some key areas.
Of course, the Ducks have been a formidable opponent in their own right. Some of this was to be expected. Young players on the cusp of stardom, ready to formally announce themselves to a new stage. Speed, size, and skill in abundance, the Ducks also have a share of veteran contributors with ample experience.
Still, each series brings with it some surprises. Through two games, a growing story is the Ducks fourth line. Centred by Tim Washe, flanked by Jeffery Viel and a converted defenceman Ian Moore, some unheralded players are having a coming out party of their own.
Let’s take a deeper look into the success of the lineup so far, and perhaps find some answers in what might lie ahead.
Washe’s player profile
The centre of attention, as far as the Ducks fourth line goes, is Washe. However, it should be noted that Washe has a firm role as a defensive specialist. This is essential to understanding Washe’s contributions. This had included a role on the penalty kill and in holding late leads throughout the regular season. Now Washe has added another layer in the playoffs, where home ice and individual matchups are magnified.
A look into his history, spending five seasons in the NCAA, shows us that he is the real deal. Winning the NCHC Defensive Forward of the year in 2025 as the captain of his team, the Ducks signed Washe near the end of last season. Clearly there was a vision for both player and team, as a high octane upstart group needed defensive contributors.
Spending the first half of this season in the AHL, Washe showed his offensive game could translate to the professional ranks. It was enough to earn him a look on the Ducks and he has ran with the opportunity.
Washe has a good amount of experience, and is an accomplished defender. He has a lot of speed and size, and is willing to be physical. A fierce competitor, he is already a strong face-off option. In the here and now, he is well equipped to play a pivotal role for the Ducks in the playoffs.
How Washe is becoming a threat
Some might look at his age, as 24 is older for a rookie. It might be presumptuous to discount the possibility for more in the future, though.
The Oilers own Zach Hyman is an example that such is not always the case. With his solid production in the NCAA last season, and in the AHL this season, Washe might be able to add to his game. Honing his craft among the world’s best might bring with it a few new tricks, helping Washe to be even more dangerous. He should be able to expand on the five points he produced in 39 games this regular season.
The Oilers should be weary, as confidence is building for Washe. With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl fighting their health to various undisclosed extents, not to mention Jason Dickinson out altogether, the Oilers centre depth is tested. Washe merely surviving against McDavid on the road is a big win for the Ducks. Yet, it might be that the Ducks stick with the occasional matchup at home as well.
The Ducks are looking strong in the moment, and it seems that even brighter days are ahead of them. Things do not always go according to plan, though. While the Pacific Division did underperform this season, the Ducks already have a lot to build on.
With more standout performances, Washe might quickly be thought of as a core piece of the Ducks young core, an eager checking specialist that can grow with the team. Oilers fans should be ready for a lot more of him, and might do well not to think of him as the fourth line centre he was billed as heading into the playoffs.
Lineup matchup options
Ryan Poehling was often cast in a similar role to Washe, though perhaps their places on the depth chart have altered. While this does speak glowingly to Washe’s play, it does not take away from Poehling. Washe cannot stop the Oilers alone, and together the two centres give the Ducks a solid checking duo in the bottom-six.
There is some nastiness lower in the lineup, as the Ducks role players embrace physicality. Jeffrey Viel is certainly a presence here, making a name for himself after being traded from the Boston Bruins for a fourth-round pick earlier this season.
Ian Moore might be the more curious story. Playing as both a right shot defenceman and a winger for the Ducks this season, it has been a creative approach. Clearly this shows a willingness to embrace the role required of him, but it adds a defensive wrinkle to a line that might get put into some tough matchups. Especially given Washe’s usage, Moore might provide an especially interesting fit in this context.
The Oilers will need to lock in
The Oilers can acknowledge the Ducks strong performance so far, and they should feel the edge of the season drawing nearer. They should also feel confident that their best hockey can win the day. However, the Oilers best is looking a bit precarious at this moment. The injury situation is certainly concerning, but this will need to be the case.
It goes without saying that McDavid and Draisaitl being healthy enough to be their usual supreme selves is vital. Still, key losses like Jason Dickinson can be opportunities for their own young players to step up.
An interesting comparison might be Josh Samanski. A big, young checking centre who can skate, Samanski’s offensive game might still have room to grow as well. Coaches for both teams might have to blend boldness into their lineup decisions to find success.
Whatever happens the rest of the way, it should be a highly entertaining series. The Oilers cannot get ahead of themselves, as the Ducks might start to taste more. If they are able to get past the Oilers, the Ducks would certainly be making a statement. Given the ruckus nature of their games, Washe is positioned to raise his profile.
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