Ducks Soar Past Oilers to Take Lead in Playoff Series
Ducks Secure First Home Playoff Victory in Eight Years with 7-4 Win Over Oilers
In an electrifying atmosphere, the Anaheim Ducks triumphed over the Edmonton Oilers with a 7-4 victory on Friday night, marking their first home playoff game in eight years. Beckett Sennecke and Leo Carlsson scored just 42 seconds apart in the third period, while Mikael Granlund contributed with one goal and two assists, giving the Ducks a 2-1 lead in the series.
Jeffrey Viel and Jackson LaCombe also added to the scoreline in the third period, while goaltender Lukas Dostal made 20 saves. The Ducks have now accumulated 16 goals across three games, showcasing their offensive prowess against the two-time Western Conference champions. Early goals from Mason McTavish and Alex Killorn set a strong tone for the game.
Supported by a fervent sellout crowd eager for playoff hockey in Orange County since 2018, the Ducks overcame defensive vulnerabilities this season by outscoring the formidable Oilers, even as Connor McDavid recorded his first points of the series.
McDavid netted a power-play goal in the third and provided an assist. Teammates Vasily Podkolzin, Kasperi Kapanen, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also contributed to the scoring, while Connor Ingram stopped 32 shots for the Oilers.
The Ducks seized control of the game in the early third period. Moments after Sennecke scored his first playoff point with a wrist shot that broke the tie, Carlsson executed a perfect 2-on-1 rush alongside Troy Terry.
Despite McDavid’s efforts to narrow the deficit with a deflected goal, a subsequent cross-checking penalty against him interrupted Edmonton’s momentum. With just over three minutes remaining, Viel sealed the victory with a backhand shot, and LaCombe added an empty-net goal from the Ducks’ goal line, marking the franchise’s first home playoff win since May 14, 2017.
Having split the initial two games of the series in Edmonton, the Ducks have proven they can compete with the experience-rich Oilers, despite fielding a less seasoned team that struggled defensively throughout the season. The Ducks dominated early play, firing 20 shots on Ingram in the opening period, and Killorn’s second-period goal was his 39th career playoff score.
The series will continue with Game 4 on Sunday night at Honda Center, as both teams aim to capitalize on the shifting dynamics of this high-stakes matchup.
