The Edmonton Oilers made a bold statement with their victory over the Anaheim Ducks, edging closer to the Pacific Division lead. With a 4-2 win, the Oilers are now just three points behind the Ducks. It’s a promising sign as they start to resemble the team that twice reached the Stanley Cup Finals.
The game started with a scoreless first half until the Oilers broke through. After some back-and-forth play, Connor McDavid was credited with the first goal, thanks to a nifty setup from Max Jones and a fortuitous bounce off Evan Bouchard’s shot.
For the first 40 minutes, it was a tight contest, but the third period opened up with a flurry of goals. Five minutes into the final frame, the Oilers capitalized on a rush. Zach Hyman carried the puck into the zone, finding Jack Roslovic, who slipped it past Lukáš Dostál for a 2-0 lead.
The Oilers quickly extended their lead to 3-0. A neutral zone battle led to a two-on-one break, with Vasily Podkolzin delivering a perfect cross-ice pass to Matt Savoie, who netted his 14th of the season.
But the Ducks weren’t going down without a fight. Beckett Sennecke’s deflection and Cutter Guthier’s goal brought Anaheim within one. However, Zach Hyman sealed the deal with an empty-netter, marking his 31st goal of the season.
This game was crucial for the Oilers. Trailing the Ducks by five points before the game, this win now puts them within striking distance of their first division title since 1986-87.
Connor Ingram was stellar in net, stopping 25 of 27 shots for a .931 save percentage, holding strong despite the Ducks' late surge.
The Oilers’ top line of Podkolzin, McDavid, and Savoie has been on fire, especially in Leon Draisaitl’s absence. Savoie has been a revelation, tallying five goals and 13 points in his last 16 games. The second line, featuring Nugent-Hopkins, Hyman, and Roslovic, also delivered, with Roslovic scoring his 20th goal of the season.
Physicality was on display, highlighted by a late-game scrum involving Olen Zellweger and Zach Hyman. Fortunately, Hyman returned to action quickly, contributing to a solid power play.
The Oilers’ penalty kill has been a strength since adding Jason Dickinson and Connor Murphy, going 3-for-3 against the Ducks, matching their performance against the Golden Knights.
This marks just their second three-game winning streak, with hopes of extending it against the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday. A win there could be pivotal in their quest for the division crown.