The Edmonton Oilers secured a commanding 6-1 victory against the Anaheim Ducks at Rogers Place on Saturday (Mar. 30), extending their dominance over their Pacific Division rivals. Edmonton now needs just one more win to officially secure a spot in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Captain Connor McDavid led the charge with two goals and an assist, while Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm contributed a goal and two assists. Additional goals were scored by Adam Henrique, Zach Hyman, and Warren Foegele for the Oilers.
The lone goal for the Ducks came from Alex Killorn, breaking Calvin Pickard’s shutout attempt with a power-play goal late in the third period.
With this win, the Oilers have amassed 94 points, trailing the Pacific Division leaders, the Vancouver Canucks, by just four points. Edmonton has 10 games remaining in the regular season, while the Canucks have nine.
Edmonton’s Dominance Over Anaheim Persists
The Oilers have now defeated the Anaheim Ducks in their last seven encounters, with an average margin of victory of 4.29 goals. Since January 2023, Edmonton has secured victories over Anaheim by significant margins both at home and away.
New Oilers Face Former Team
This game marked the first meeting between Adam Henrique, Sam Carrick, and their former team, the Ducks, since joining the Oilers in trades on Mar. 6. Henrique, who scored the opening goal, and Carrick, who assisted Ekholm’s goal, showcased their impact against their former club.
Desharnais Stands Out
Vincent Desharnais earned the Third Star of the game for his standout performance, including a career-high ice time and two assists. This was one of his best showings since entering the NHL last season.
Bouchard Reaches Milestone
Defenseman Evan Bouchard contributed two assists, bringing his total for the 2023-24 season to 60, tying him with Paul Coffey for the fifth most assists in a single season in Oilers history. Bouchard is now among the select few Oilers players to achieve at least 60 assists in a season.
Oilers Eye Playoff Berth
With the opportunity to clinch a playoff spot with a regulation win against the St. Louis Blues on Monday (Apr. 1), the Oilers aim to extend their postseason streak to five consecutive seasons, marking their longest streak since 1997-2001. Previous encounters with the Blues this season ended in a win and a loss for Edmonton.
