The Edmonton Oilers have won their first game of the 2026 National Hockey League Stanley Cup Playoffs. On Monday at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, the Oilers defeated the Anaheim Ducks 4-3.
Two Canadians had a multi-point game for the Oilers. They were centre Jason Dickinson of Georgetown, Ontario, who had two goals, and defenseman Jake Walman of Toronto, Ontario, who had two assists. Kasperi Kapanen also had two goals for the Oilers. Meanwhile, Leon Draisaitl and Vasily Podkolzin had two assists each for the Oilers. Kaspanen’s second goal came with one minute and 54 seconds left in the third period from Draisaitl and Podkolzin, and was the game-winning goal to break a 3-3 tie.
The Oilers outscored the Ducks 2-0 in the first period and the third period. This was Draisaitl’s first game since March 15. He was out for over a month with a lower body injury and there were a lot of question marks whether or not the would be ready for game one. Draisaitl played and was exceptional with his underrated play-making ability.
The Oilers also had three great performances by the three players traded to Edmonton from the Chicago Blackhawks at the trade deadline. As hockey publisher Rob Suggitt pointed out on X, Colton Dach of St. Albert, Alberta led the Oilers with eight hits, defenseman Connor Murphy led the Oilers with four blocked shots, and Dickinson had two goals.
As the series with the Ducks moves forward, it will be interesting to see when Oilers veteran forward Adam Henrique of Brantford, Ontario returns. Henrique was injured in game one late in the first period.
