EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — The Edmonton Oilers rallied to defeat the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 Friday night, thanks to Leon Draisaitl's tiebreaking goal late in the third period. This win marks the Oilers' second consecutive victory and their tenth win out of the last thirteen matches.
The Ducks, who were riding high on a three-game winning streak, faced one of the league's hottest teams and put on a competitive performance at Rogers Place. Early on, the Oilers surged to a 2-0 lead, with two key goals bolstered by offensive plays from Darnell Nurse and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
Nugent-Hopkins opened the scoring for the Oilers midway through the first period. At 16:54, he sent the puck toward the net, which deflected off Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe's stick and trickled past goaltender Lukas Dostal. This marked Evans Bouchard's 200th NHL point, making him the second fastest defenseman in Oilers history to reach this milestone.
Nurse doubled the lead for Edmonton at 7:57 of the second period, scoring from the high slot after receiving the puck from Jeff Skinner. The Oilers appeared to be cruising, but the Ducks responded valiantly, demonstrating their resilience.
Brett Leason got the Ducks on the scoreboard at 18:32 of the second. He broke away from Oilers’ defensemen and slid the puck past Stuart Skinner, narrowing the Oilers' lead to 2-1. Just minutes later, Anaheim leveled the game at 2-2 with LaCombe's power-play goal at 6:53 of the third period, showcasing the young defenseman's growing impact on the team's offense.
With the score knotted, the stage was set for Draisaitl to shine. With just 1:35 remaining, he received the puck from Zach Hyman and executed a deft play, controlling it on his knee before firing the puck past Dostal for the game-winning goal. This marked Draisaitl’s league-leading 28th goal of the season and extended his points streak to thirteen games, tying him for the longest of the season.
Draisaitl’s impressive scoring streak includes 11 goals and 14 assists during this period, eleviating him within the top echelons of Oilers franchise history as he passed Glenn Anderson for fifth place with 907 career points.
The victory also brought the Oilers’ record to 23-12-3, strengthening their position as one of the NHL’s competitive teams. Their ability to bounce back from previous road defeats against the Ducks and Kings displayed their growing strength and resilience.
Both teams faced their upcoming challenges, with the Ducks set to host the Tampa Bay Lightning, hoping to regain their form, and the Oilers riding high on confidence from their latest performance. Their success against the Ducks continues their dominance, now winning eight of their last nine matchups against Anaheim.
The Oilers, currently recognized for their offensive prowess, will be focusing on maintaining their momentum as the season progresses. Draisaitl leads the charge, proving integral to their successes as they aim for greater heights.