DUCKS PUSH OILERS TO BRINK OF ELIMINATION AFTER GAME 4 OVERTIME THRILLER
The Anaheim Ducks showcased their resilience as they clinched a riveting victory against the Edmonton Oilers, winning 4-3 in overtime during Game 4 of their series. Ryan Poehling emerged as the hero, netting the decisive goal after a lengthy review verified that the puck had just crossed the goal line beneath Edmonton’s goaltender, Tristan Jarry’s skate. This win propelled the Ducks to a 3-1 lead in the series, placing them one step closer to advancing to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
As the series shifts back to Edmonton for Game 5 on April 28th, the Ducks remain buoyed by their previous performance. The game began with the Oilers taking a commanding lead early on, scoring twice within the first six minutes. Kasperi Kapanen ignited the scoreboard with a goal only 38 seconds into the clash, courtesy of assists from Jake Walman and Jason Dickinson. This lightning-fast strike marked the second quickest opening goal in the Oilers’ playoff history, trailing only Fernando Pisani’s 16-second goal in the 2006 Stanley Cup Final.
Five minutes following Kapanen’s opener, the Oilers capitalized on a power play opportunity, allowing Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to extend their lead with his second goal of the playoffs. Assists from Evan Bouchard and superstar Connor McDavid marked a significant moment, as both players registered points in their 100th career playoff game—only the second Oilers player to achieve this milestone since Esa Tikkanen in 1992. Despite outshooting the Oilers 13-9 and achieving a 17-10 advantage in hits during the first period, the Ducks found themselves trailing by two goals.
The Ducks turned the tide in the second period. Following a tripping penalty assessed to Joshua Samanski, Anaheim’s Cutter Gauthier scored, reducing Edmonton’s lead to 2-1. Adding to the Ducks’ momentum was defenseman Jackson LaCombe, who became the fourth defenseman in NHL history to record points in every one of his first four playoff games, while also reaching six assists in that time frame.
A subsequent minor penalty against Zach Hyman set the stage for another Ducks power play, which they converted, prompting Mikael Granlund to score his second of the series, tying the game 2-2 as the second period neared its conclusion. This goal was assisted by Leo Carlsson and John Carlson, both notching their third assists of the playoffs. The second period ended with the momentum clearly shifting towards the Ducks.
In the third period, a minor interference penalty assessed to Jake Walman gave Anaheim another chance on the power play. However, the failed opportunity saw Edmonton retaliate with a power play of their own, which Evan Bouchard exploited, scoring his first playoff goal and restoring the Oilers’ lead at 3-2. This moment marked McDavid’s third point of the night, as he became the third-fastest player in NHL postseason history to achieve 50 multi-point games.
The Ducks’ crowd erupted again when Jeffrey Viel scored his second goal of the game with just over six minutes remaining in regulation, knotting the score at 3-3. The assists came from Carlson and LaCombe, both vital contributors to the game’s dramatic finish. In the closing moments, McDavid launched a couple of potent shots during a late surge by the Oilers, but Ducks netminder Lukas Dostal made impressive saves, showcasing his prowess in what was his debut overtime playoff game.
The intensity culminated in overtime, where Anaheim maintained composure and ultimately secured the victory, heightening the stakes for the Oilers as they confront elimination in their upcoming match.
