Venue: Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB
faceoff is scheduled for 10:00 PM EDT (7:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM MT)
TV/Streaming: ESPN2, CBC, SN, TVAS, Victory+, KCOP-13 (national and local broadcasts)
Team Records
Anaheim Ducks (regular season): 43-33-6 (92 points), 3rd in the Pacific Division. Road record: 19-20-2.
Edmonton Oilers (regular season): 41-30-11 (93 points), 2nd in the Pacific Division. Home record: 22-14-5.
Playoff records (current series): Both 0-0.
The Oilers earned home-ice advantage with a slightly better point total in a tight Pacific race, but the Ducks posted more total wins and enter as a dangerous, physical wild-card-style threat making their first postseason appearance in eight years.
Recent Team Forms
Ducks: Limped into the playoffs, posting a 2-6-2 record in their final 10 games (outscored 41-30). They showed strong 5-on-5 expected goals share late (56.3%) but struggled with poor starts, defensive lapses, and goaltending regression after a hotter mid-season stretch. Road play has been inconsistent, but the young group carries momentum from earlier success.
Oilers: Finished with mixed results (roughly 6-2-2 or 2-2-2 in recent stretches) but closed strong with a 6-1 win over Vancouver in the finale. They endured injuries and early travel woes yet showed resilience, especially at home. Edmonton went on a season-high five-game win streak earlier and has leaned defensive post-deadline.
No prior playoff games in this series—Game 1 sets the tone in a high-stakes Pacific Division rivalry renewal.
Injury Report
Anaheim Ducks:
Radko Gudas (D) – Day-to-day (lower body); missed recent games but expected to play a limited role if cleared.
Jansen Harkins (C) – OUT (upper body/hand surgery; missed all of April).
Ross Johnston (LW) – OUT (lower body).
Petr Mrazek (G) – OUT (lower body/hip).
Edmonton Oilers:
Leon Draisaitl (C) – Day-to-day (lower body/knee); missed final 14 regular-season games but skated fully in practice and is trending toward availability (possibly Game 1—medical clearance pending; coach non-committal but optimistic).
Jason Dickinson (C) – Day-to-day (lower body/leg); returned to skating but status uncertain for Game 1.
Max Jones (LW) – OUT (lower body).
The Oilers’ depth and goaltending are otherwise intact. Draisaitl’s potential return is the series’ biggest wildcard.
Player Matchups to Watch
Goaltending Battle (Critical for Underdog Ducks):
Ducks: Lukas Dostal (30-20-4, 3.10 GAA, .888 SV% in 56 games). Young starter must steal games behind a leaky defense; Olympic experience helps, but he’ll face heavy pressure.
Oilers: Connor Ingram (16-10-3, 2.60 GAA, .899 SV% in 32 games) expected to start—acquired for stability and has been strong lately (.924 SV% in recent stretch). Tristan Jarry provides backup but has been inconsistent.
Forward Lines & Key Skaters:
Oilers’ stars vs. Ducks’ youth/physicality: Connor McDavid (league-best impact; factored in nearly 49% of team goals; carried offense without Draisaitl with 24 points in 14 games). Zach Hyman, Matt Savoie (hot scorer), and—if healthy—Leon Draisaitl (97 points in 65 games pre-injury). Elite power play looms large.
Ducks’ emerging core: Troy Terry (scoring threat), Cutter Gauthier, Beckett Sennecke, and veteran John Carlson on the back end. They rely on speed, physical forecheck, and counter-punching.
Special Teams & Style: Oilers boast one of the league’s top power plays; Ducks rank lower but play heavy, structured hockey. Expect board battles, odd-man rushes, and Ducks trying to disrupt Edmonton’s transition game.
Series History & Head-to-Head
This is a rare (or first in recent memory) playoff meeting between the clubs. The Ducks famously eliminated the Oilers in 7 games (OT Game 7) in 2017. 2025-26 regular-season head-to-head: Oilers went 2-1-0 (wins: 7-4 and 4-2 at home; loss: 5-6 in Anaheim). All games high-scoring and decided in regulation; home teams won each.
All-time context: Oilers hold historical regular-season edge, but Ducks’ physical style has historically troubled Edmonton in playoffs.
Betting Trends
Oilers strong as home favorites (35-29 as ML fave overall; 13-6 when shorter than -178).
Ducks respectable underdogs (26-23 as + money; 4-5 when +148 or longer).
Overs hit in 58.5% of Oilers games; Ducks-Oilers matchups trended high-scoring.
Playoff openers often tight, but these teams’ styles favor offense.
Game Odds
Anaheim Ducks 6.5
Edmonton Oilers – 180
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Sunday, April 19, 2026
