The Edmonton Oilers didn’t exactly come out of the gate flying on Monday night, but once they found their rhythm, they delivered a historic punch that left the Anaheim Ducks reeling - and the NHL record books needing an update.
For a team riding high after Evan Bouchard’s six-point explosion just two nights earlier, the Oilers’ blue line wasn’t done making headlines. Against Anaheim, it was the defense corps once again stepping into the spotlight, this time with a scoring surge that was both unprecedented and emphatic.
After a sluggish start - and credit to the Ducks for jumping on Edmonton early with a 7-1 shot advantage and a 1-0 lead just over three minutes in - the Oilers found their legs. And when they did, the defensemen took over in a way the league has literally never seen before.
In a span of just 3:49, Edmonton’s blue liners lit the lamp four times: Spencer Stastney got it started at 4:36, Mattias Ekholm followed at 6:28, Darnell Nurse joined the party at 7:34, and then Ekholm struck again at 8:25. That flurry set a new NHL record for the fastest four goals by defensemen in a single game.
To put that in perspective, this was only the sixth time in league history that a team has had four goals from defensemen in a single period - and the first time since 2000. But no one has ever done it this quickly. What fans witnessed at Rogers Place wasn’t just rare - it was historic.
“They were great, breaking the puck out, joining the rush and creating offence for us,” said Leon Draisaitl, who quietly posted four assists on the night. “You need every part of the game to contribute. In the last couple of games they’ve been key.”
And just when you thought the Oilers’ defense couldn’t top itself, Ekholm capped the night with an empty-netter to complete his first career hat trick - and in doing so, helped the Oilers make even more history. It marked the first time in NHL history that a team has had defensemen record hat tricks in back-to-back games. Bouchard had done it on Saturday - the first by an Edmonton defenseman in 20 years - and now Ekholm followed suit.
“Bouch has a crazy game the other night,” said Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. “So it’s cool that his partner could step up and keep it going.”
And that’s the thing - Bouchard’s offensive prowess is well-documented. He’s one of the premier offensive defensemen in the league right now.
But Ekholm? He’s known more for shutting things down in his own zone than lighting up the scoreboard.
He had just three goals all season before Monday night.
“I’m usually not known for my goal scoring ability,” Ekholm said with a grin. “I couldn’t buy a goal for 20 games.
It’s one of those things. Some nights you have the bounces go your way.
I’ll try to enjoy this one because it will probably be my last.”
Maybe. But for now, Ekholm and the rest of Edmonton’s defense can enjoy a moment that’s etched in NHL history.
As for Anaheim, they were clearly running on fumes. Playing their third game in four nights - and the second of a back-to-back - without three of their top five forwards (Troy Terry, Leo Carlsson, and Mason McTavish), the Ducks still managed to take early control of the game. But once the Oilers found their legs, the gap between these two teams became painfully clear.
The Oilers have now added another chapter to their season’s resurgence - and this one came from the back end. If their defense can keep contributing like this, Edmonton just became a whole lot more dangerous.