The Edmonton Oilers dropped a critical 4-3 overtime decision to the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday, on a controversial call that officials ultimately got right. The loss puts the Oilers on the brink of elimination in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Game Summary
The Oilers opened the scoring with a Kasperi Kapanen goal at even strength and a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins power-play marker in the first period to stake an early claim. Anaheim pushed back later in the first, but goaltender Tristan Jarry stood tall, stopping all 13 shots in the opening frame.
However, the Ducks scored on two power plays in the second period to tie the game heading into the third. The two clubs exchanged goals in the final frame, sending the contest to overtime.
In extra time, an innocent-looking pass deflected off Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse and barely crossed the goal line, ending the game and putting the Oilers' season on the rocks.
Player Grades
Tristan Jarry: 6
Jarry delivered an excellent opening 20 minutes, aggressive with the puck and flashing a glove on a high shot by McTavish. He made a trio of high-test saves to keep it 2-0, including a pad save on Gauthier and a tough rebound chance off Viel. In the second, he denied Carlsson with a glove save, but the 2-1 goal was a snipe by Gauthier with too much time on the power play. He had little chance on the give-and-go to tie it 2-2. Jarry made a big save on Sennecke to open the third, then three saves on a Ducks power play, including a big stop on Granlund. His club scored the 3-2 goal on the next shift, but a bang-bang play in front led to the 3-3 equalizer. The overtime winner deflected off Nurse and skittered barely over the line. Jarry gave his club a puncher's chance.
Connor McDavid: 6
McDavid recorded a secondary assist on the 2-0 goal with a point feed to Bouchard. However, his early impact at 5-on-5 was muted, and he appeared to re-aggravate his ankle. He fired a wrist shot in the second, and his line finally produced a lengthy in-zone shift midway through the period. He lost his man on the 2-2 goal. McDavid came to life in the third, feeding Bouchard for another helper on the 3-2 goal. He had a thrilling rush but was denied by a pad save, and a hard drive late created a rebound that Savoie could not bury. McDavid won 67% of his faceoffs in regulation.
Zach Hyman: 4
Hyman absorbed heavy punishment in front of the net, a critical part of the power-play goal that made it 2-0. But he contributed little from there. He was whistled for a 50/50 kneeing call in the second. He had a chance off a Draisaitl feed in overtime but whiffed on it. Hyman is not looking 100%.
Matt Savoie: 4
Savoie had a far-too-quiet 14:38 of regulation ice time. He had the game on his stick late in the third but could not bury McDavid's rebound. He recorded three blocks.
Mattias Ekholm: 4
Ekholm made a smart interception and clear on the first-period penalty kill. But he and Bouchard had early issues at 5-on-5. He was beaten to the outside by Carlsson early in the second, gave up too much gap on the 2-1 goal, and did not knock down the pass on the 2-2 goal late in the second.
