The Anaheim Ducks staged a thrilling comeback to edge out the Edmonton Oilers 6-5 on Wednesday night. This victory marked a historic milestone for Joel Quenneville, who became only the second head coach in NHL history to reach 1,000 wins, joining the legendary Scotty Bowman. Quenneville's achievement came in his 1,825th game, with a career record now standing at 1,000-595-153, including 77 ties from the pre-shootout era.
The Ducks displayed resilience, overcoming multiple two-goal deficits and a late third-period challenge. Cutter Gauthier clinched the game with just 1:14 left on the clock, seizing a rebound from Leo Carlsson's shot.
Beckett Sennecke had earlier leveled the score shortly after Edmonton's Matt Savoie netted his 10th career goal on a power play. Sennecke's 19th goal places him at the top among NHL rookies.
Carlsson, returning from an 11-game absence due to a thigh injury, contributed significantly with a goal and two assists. Olen Zellweger added to the third-period scoring, while Ian Moore and Alex Killorn also found the net.
In goal, Lukas Dostal made 22 saves.
For the Oilers, Zach Hyman and Evan Bouchard scored late in the second period, with Jack Roslovic and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also contributing. Connor McDavid, ever the playmaker, recorded two assists, pushing his league-leading point total to 98 in 59 games. Tristan Jarry made 20 saves before Connor Ingram took over after Sennecke's equalizer.
With this win, the Ducks improved to 31-23-3, boasting six consecutive home victories and triumphing in 10 of their last 12 games. This surge has propelled them to second place in the Pacific Division, putting them squarely in the Western Conference playoff picture. It's a remarkable turnaround for a team that hasn't seen postseason action in seven years, but Quenneville, renowned for leading teams to the playoffs in 20 of his 22 completed seasons, has them on track in his debut year with Anaheim.
Quenneville's return to coaching this season follows a four-year hiatus after his 2021 resignation from the Florida Panthers. Reinstated by the NHL in July 2024, he took the helm in Anaheim in May 2025.
His illustrious career includes three Stanley Cup victories with the Chicago Blackhawks and a championship ring as an assistant with Colorado in 1996. Among active coaches, Quenneville's win total is unmatched, with Paul Maurice and Lindy Ruff trailing behind.