Ducks Soar Past Depleted Oilers in High-Scoring Clash

Anaheim's depth and scoring touch prove too much for injury-riddled Edmonton

Mar. 28, 2026 at 3:05pm

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The first-place Anaheim Ducks extended their winning streak to four games with a high-scoring victory over the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place. Despite being without several key centers, the Oilers were favored at home, but Anaheim's balanced attack and opportunistic special teams proved too much to handle.

Why it matters

This Pacific Division matchup featured two teams jockeying for playoff positioning, with the Ducks looking to solidify their hold on first place and the Oilers trying to keep pace despite a rash of injuries to their center depth. The result could have significant implications for the final standings and postseason seeding in the Western Conference.

The details

Anaheim's Cutter Gauthier led the way with a goal and two assists, while the Ducks' power play capitalized on Edmonton's shaky penalty kill. The Oilers were missing Leon Draisaitl, Trent Frederic, Colton Dach and Curtis Lazar, putting an outsized burden on Connor McDavid to carry the offense. Goaltenders Lukas Dostal and Connor Ingram both struggled, allowing a combined 12 goals in the high-scoring affair.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at 3:30 pm ET.
  • Anaheim has now won four straight games and six in a row against Pacific Division opponents.

The players

Cutter Gauthier

A 36-goal, 63-point scorer for the Ducks this season, leading the team's balanced attack.

Connor McDavid

The Oilers' superstar center who is carrying a heavier load with several key teammates sidelined by injuries.

Lukas Dostal

The Ducks' workhorse goaltender who has started 49 games this season, though he has struggled with consistency.

Connor Ingram

The Oilers' starting goaltender, who has also had an up-and-down campaign with a .891 save percentage.

Leon Draisaitl

The Oilers' star center who is currently on long-term injured reserve, leaving Edmonton shorthanded down the middle.

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What they’re saying

“We knew coming in that Edmonton was banged up, but our guys did a great job of taking advantage and playing our game. It was a big two points for us in the standings.”

— Dallas Eakins, Ducks Head Coach

“Without some of our key centers, we're really having to lean on Connor to do a lot. The guys are battling hard, but Anaheim's depth and special teams were the difference today.”

— Jay Woodcroft, Oilers Head Coach

What’s next

The Ducks will look to extend their winning streak when they host the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday, April 1st. The Oilers will try to bounce back at home against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, April 3rd.

The takeaway

This high-scoring affair highlighted the Ducks' offensive depth and special teams prowess, as well as the Oilers' struggles to overcome key injuries to their center depth. The result could have significant implications for the Pacific Division standings and playoff seeding in the Western Conference.