Oilers Surge Past Ducks Despite Granlund’s Hat Trick in Wild Edmonton Showdown
If you’re looking for a game that had a little bit of everything-early leads, explosive scoring bursts, special teams fireworks, and a hat trick hero-you got it in Edmonton. The Anaheim Ducks came out swinging but couldn’t survive a second-period blitz from the Oilers, falling 7-4 in a game that was far closer than the final score suggests.
Fast Start, Fast Fall
Anaheim struck first, capitalizing on an early power play when Mikael Granlund sniped one over Tristan Jarry’s shoulder from the left faceoff circle. It was a confident start on the road, and the Ducks looked composed early. But momentum shifted after Ryan Strome caught Darnell Nurse with a high stick that drew blood-and a four-minute penalty.
Zach Hyman made the Ducks pay, jamming in a goal at the side of the net to even things up 1-1 by the end of the first.
The second period opened with promise for Anaheim. Alex Killorn gave the Ducks a 2-1 edge less than a minute in, finishing a slick feed from Ryan Poehling with a quick shot at the far post. But that lead didn’t last long.
The Four-Minute Collapse
In a span of just under four minutes, the game unraveled for Anaheim. Edmonton rattled off four unanswered goals-Spencer Stastney tied it, Darnell Nurse gave them the lead, and then Mattias Ekholm took over, scoring twice to make it 5-2. It was a stunning offensive outburst that flipped the game on its head.
Still, the Ducks didn’t fold. Granlund struck again on the power play late in the second, this time from the right circle, and Anaheim went into the third trailing 5-3.
Granlund’s Hat Trick Keeps Ducks Close
Granlund wasn’t done. He completed the hat trick in the third period-again on the power play-pulling Anaheim within one. That made it three goals on the man advantage for Granlund, a rare feat that’s only been done two other times in Ducks history (by Paul Kariya in 2001 and Teemu Selanne in 2008).
With the Ducks pressing and Ville Husso pulled for the extra attacker, Edmonton sealed the win with two empty-net goals. Connor McDavid netted the first, and Ekholm completed his own hat trick with the second.
A Game of Missed Opportunities-and One Brutal Stretch
Despite the final score, Anaheim had the better of the play for large stretches. They outshot the Oilers 40-32 and dominated possession in the third, outshooting Edmonton 16-5. At even strength, the Ducks posted a 56.73% Corsi For and a 61.25% Fenwick For-strong indicators that they controlled the puck more often and generated quality chances.
But the four-goal flurry in the second period proved too much to overcome. That short stretch was the difference in a game where Anaheim otherwise looked like the more dangerous team.
Power Play Clicking, But Depth Questions Remain
The Ducks went 3-for-4 on the power play, a major bright spot. Their penalty kill also held strong, allowing just one goal on three Oilers power plays-no small feat against one of the most lethal units in the league.
Still, questions linger. Ryan Strome played just 4:42 and saw limited action after the first period. He’s had an up-and-down season, including healthy scratches, and while there was no reported injury in this game, his limited usage raises eyebrows.
Franchise Notes and Milestones
- Granlund’s hat trick marks back-to-back games with a Ducks player netting three goals-something that’s only happened once before in team history, when Corey Perry and Saku Koivu did it in January 2012.
- Anaheim is also the first team in NHL history to win five or more straight games without either of their top two players recording a point in any of those games. That’s a testament to the depth and resilience this group has shown, even in the face of adversity.
What’s Next
The Ducks continue their road trip with a stop in Vancouver to take on the Canucks on Thursday night. If they can clean up the defensive lapses and maintain the offensive pressure they showed in the third, they’ll be a tough out.
But for now, this one will sting. Anaheim showed they could hang with the Oilers-and even outplay them for stretches-but one brutal four-minute stretch was all it took to turn a promising effort into a frustrating loss.