Ducks level series with 6-4 win over Oilers

EDMONTON –

The Anaheim Ducks are proving they have the ability to trade punches with the Edmonton Oilers — and deliver the decisive blow.

The Ducks withstood a comeback attempt and beat the Oilers 6-4 on Wednesday to pull even in their first-round playoff series.

High-profile hockey is nothing new to Anaheim, Alex Killorn said.

“That’s how we’ve been all year,” said the winger, who had a goal and two assists on Wednesday. “It’s stressful playing that way. I think we’re getting used to it, but I think we’d like to be a little bit better with the lead and keep some of those runs. But the resilience in this group is pretty phenomenal.”

Cutter Gauthier scored twice and contributed an assist for the Ducks, while Ryan Poehling had two goals and Jacob Trouba had a goal and a helper. Jackson LaCombe had three assists for the Ducks, who are in the postseason for the first time since 2018.

Gauthier said Anaheim was composed even when Edmonton tied the game 4-4 with eight minutes to play.

“We have the faith,” he said. “Throughout the season, when the matches have been equal and we have conceded goals, we have been in some moments of high pressure.

“We knew they were going to come back with a lot of momentum and obviously they were going to score that goal and tie things up with eight minutes to go. Nothing was said on the bench, we knew what to expect in the third leg and I’m pleased with the way we responded.”

Lukas Dostal made 33 saves to pick up the victory in net for Anaheim.

Leon Draisaitl, Connor Murphy, Zach Hyman and Josh Samanski each had one goal for the Oilers. Connor Ingram recorded 22 saves.

Draisaitl continued to make an impact after missing the final 14 games of the regular season. He opened the scoring midway through the first period, shooting off the skate of defenseman Drew Helleson and inside.

The Ducks tied the game on the power play with 7:12 left in the first, as Gauthier’s long shot in traffic beat Ingram for his first goal of the postseason.

Anaheim used another effective screen 2:44 into the second half to take a 2-1 lead after Trouba scored on a point shot.

The Ducks took a two-goal lead 5:35 into the second on a power play as Killorn had his rebound and scored.

Just before that goal, the Oilers got a scare as star forward Connor McDavid left the game after his right leg connected with teammate Mattias Ekholm on the Edmonton blueline. He returned a few minutes later and finished the contest.

Edmonton pulled one back with 8:14 left in the middle frame after Draisaitl fed the ball back to Murphy and he hit a long shot through a screen to beat Dostal.

Anaheim regained the two-goal lead on a short score with 4:10 left in the second after a terrible sequence by the Oilers allowed Poehling to deflect in a Killorn shot.

The Oilers came back with 2:12 left in the second when an Ekholm punt was bounced home by Hyman.

Edmonton tied the game with 6:09 left in the third after a steal by Matthew Savoie led to a layup by rookie Samanski.

Anaheim made it 5-4 with 4:52 left when a clearing attempt went off a defender’s skate and right to Gauthier, who scored his second of the game on an open net.

Poehling put the game away with an empty-net shot with 70 seconds left on the game clock.

McDavid was held scoreless for the second game.

“We have been in this situation a lot, 1-1 going on the road,” said the Oilers captain after the loss. “We’re comfortable on the road, we like to play on the road. Obviously, we’d like a better result tonight and a better product tonight, but we’re comfortable going on the road.”

Game 3 is Friday in Anaheim.

This report from The Canadian Press was first published on April 22, 2026.

&copies 2026 The Canadian Press