ANAHEIM, Calif. — Nick Ritchie is an NHL playoff newcomer. The 21-year-old power forward wasn’t around for any of the Anaheim Ducks’ agonizing Game 7 defeats over the past four seasons.

So when he found a patch of open ice during the third period Wednesday night, Ritchie could let fly with a beautiful shot, his wrists unencumbered by the weight of history.

After four years of agony and over a decade of fruitless Game 7s, the Ducks are finally the victors of a winner-take-all game — and now they’re halfway to another Stanley Cup.

Ritchie scored the tiebreaker, John Gibson made 23 saves and the Ducks ended their streak of five straight Game 7 losses with a 2-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers, advancing to the Western Conference finals for the second time in three years.

Andrew Cogliano scored the tying goal midway through Period 2.