Ducks vs Oilers Game 1: Prediction, odds, and best bets for NHL playoffs
Hello hockey fans! The Edmonton Oilers beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-3 on April 20, 2026. It was a wild start to the playoffs! Kasperi Kapanen scored a huge goal late in the game to seal the win. He was the star of the night with two big goals.
The crowd in Edmonton was so loud! The Ducks played great in their first playoff game since 2018. They even took the lead for a little while. But the Oilers had many good players. Leon Draisaitl returned from his injury and helped out right away. This game was a real thriller until the end. You won’t believe how close it was! Stick around to see what this win means for the series.
Game One Final Score And Big Moments
The Edmonton Oilers won a very exciting game against the Anaheim Ducks. The final score was 4-3 for the Oilers on April 20, 2026. This huge win happened at Rogers Place in Edmonton. It was the first game of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs for both teams. The crowd was very loud, and the energy was high!
Kasperi Kapanen was the big hero for Edmonton. He scored a clutch goal late in the third period to win the game. Jason Dickinson also had a massive night. He scored two goals to help his team. The Oilers took an early lead in the first period, but the Ducks fought back hard. It was a wild game that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle!
Key Player Stats And Highlights
Both teams played with a lot of heart and speed. The stats show how close this battle really was:
- Goals: Oilers 4, Ducks 3
- Shots on Goal: Oilers 34, Ducks 28
- Hits: Oilers 47, Ducks 37
- Power Play Goals: Ducks 1, Oilers 0
- Blocked Shots: Both teams had 19
Troy Terry was the best player for the Ducks. He scored two goals and had one assist. He helped the Ducks take the lead in the second period. Lukas Dostal was amazing in goal for Anaheim. He made 30 saves and kept his team in the game. For the Oilers, Leon Draisaitl showed why he is a star. He finished the night with two assists.
The Head-To-Head Record
The Oilers and Ducks have a history of high-scoring games. During the 2025-26 regular season, the Oilers won the series 2-1. They combined for 28 goals in just three games before the playoffs.
The Ducks are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2018. Even though they are younger, they proved they can play with the best. Edmonton has gone to the Stanley Cup Final two years in a row, so they have a lot of experience.
Players Impact
This game had a very unique insight. Usually, the Oilers need Connor McDavid to score to win. He had 138 points during the regular season. But in this game, the Ducks’ defense stopped him! McDavid had zero points the entire night.
This was the first time all season the Oilers won a game when McDavid did not get a point. This shows the Oilers have great depth scoring from players like Kapanen and Dickinson.
Tactical Moments
A tactical moment happened when Leon Draisaitl returned from his injury. He had missed 14 games but looked fast on the ice. His passing helped the second line outscore the Ducks. On the other side, the Ducks’ young stars like Leo Carlsson also scored. However, some fans felt the Ducks’ veteran players made sloppy mistakes that cost them the game.
What Fans And Experts Are Saying
Experts like Kyle Morton say the Ducks must win a game in Edmonton to stay alive in this series. On Reddit, many fans were proud of the Ducks’ effort. One fan said the young kids “proved they can hang” with the big boys. Another fan noted that the Ducks were only “two mistakes away from a win”. Everyone is excited for Game 2 on Wednesday!
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