Kasperi Kapanen’s second goal, scored in the final minutes of the third period, propelled the Edmonton Oilers to a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in their playoff series opener on Monday. Jason Dickinson also notched two goals for the Oilers.
Star forward Leon Draisaitl, who returned after missing the final 14 regular-season games, contributed two assists alongside Jake Walman. The Oilers, with a regular-season record of 41-30-11, are aiming for their third consecutive appearance in the Stanley Cup final after falling short in the last two seasons against the now non-playoff team, the Florida Panthers.
Troy Terry shone for the Ducks with two goals and an assist, while Leo Carlsson also found the back of the net. Connor Ingram made 25 saves in the winning effort for the Oilers, including a crucial stop in the dying seconds. On the other end, Lukas Dostal made 30 saves for Anaheim.
Edmonton opened the scoring late in the first period as Dickinson capitalized on a beautiful pass from Walman. Kapanen extended the lead a minute later off a Draisaitl feed, showcasing his playoff prowess with a rebound goal. The Oilers dominated the first period with a 14-4 shot advantage.
Anaheim quickly responded in the second period, with Terry and Carlsson leveling the score at 2-2. The Ducks, known for their comeback abilities, tied the game twice, displaying resilience throughout the season.
The Ducks gained the lead on a power-play goal by Terry in the second period, but Edmonton fought back with Dickinson’s second goal, equalizing the score at 3-3. The Oilers ultimately secured the win with Kapanen’s second goal late in the third period, assisted by Vasily Podkolzin.
The series continues with Game 2 scheduled for Wednesday in Edmonton.