Ducks HC Joel Quenneville hits 1,000-win milestone by toppling Oilers

Quenneville becomes second NHL coach ever to reach 1,000 career wins, joining Hall of Famer Scotty Bowman.

Feb. 26, 2026 at 10:19am

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Joel Quenneville won his 1,000th NHL game as the Anaheim Ducks rallied past the Edmonton Oilers 6-5. Quenneville, 67, is only the second head coach in NHL history to reach the 1,000-win milestone, joining Hall of Famer Scotty Bowman. The Ducks overcame two separate two-goal deficits and another third-period deficit to secure the victory, with Cutter Gauthier scoring the go-ahead goal with 1:14 remaining.

Why it matters

Quenneville's achievement is a historic milestone in the NHL, as he joins an elite group of coaches who have won 1,000 games. This accomplishment cements Quenneville's legacy as one of the greatest coaches in the sport's history. The Ducks' comeback victory also keeps them firmly in the Western Conference playoff race, as they look to end a seven-year postseason drought.

The details

Anaheim erased two separate two-goal deficits and another third-period deficit to beat Edmonton. Cutter Gauthier scored the go-ahead goal with 1:14 remaining, while Beckett Sennecke tied the game 46 seconds after Edmonton rookie Matt Savoie had given the Oilers the lead. Leo Carlsson recorded a goal and two assists in his return from injury, and Olen Zellweger also scored for the Ducks. For Edmonton, Zach Hyman, Evan Bouchard, Jack Roslovic, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins found the net, while Connor McDavid recorded two assists.

  • Quenneville achieved the milestone in his 1,825th game.
  • Quenneville's first NHL win came during the 1996-97 season, the same season Bowman collected his 1,000th.

The players

Joel Quenneville

The Anaheim Ducks' head coach, who became only the second NHL coach to win 1,000 games, joining Hall of Famer Scotty Bowman.

Scotty Bowman

A Hall of Fame NHL coach who holds the record for most wins by a head coach with 1,244 victories in 2,141 games.

Cutter Gauthier

The Anaheim Ducks player who scored the go-ahead goal with 1:14 remaining to secure the victory.

Beckett Sennecke

The Anaheim Ducks rookie who tied the game 46 seconds after Edmonton took the lead in the third period.

Connor McDavid

The Edmonton Oilers star player who recorded two assists in the game, giving him an NHL-best 98 points in 59 games.

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The takeaway

Joel Quenneville's 1,000th NHL win is a remarkable achievement, cementing his status as one of the greatest coaches in the sport's history. The Ducks' comeback victory also keeps them in the playoff hunt, as they look to end their seven-year postseason drought under Quenneville's leadership.