Oilers Wrap Up 2nd in Pacific Behind Savoie's Hat Trick

Edmonton clinches home-ice advantage in first round of playoffs with 6-1 win over Canucks

Apr. 17, 2026 at 4:20am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented hockey game, with players and the ice represented as angular, overlapping shapes in a vibrant color palette.The Oilers' decisive victory over the Canucks, fueled by Savoie's hat trick, sets the stage for a high-stakes playoff matchup against the Ducks.Anaheim Today

Matt Savoie finished the regular season with his first NHL hat trick, helping host Edmonton defeat the Vancouver Canucks 6-1 on Thursday. The win clinched second place in the Pacific Division for the Oilers, who will host the Anaheim Ducks in the first round of the playoffs.

Why it matters

The Oilers' second-place finish in the Pacific Division secures them home-ice advantage in the opening round of the playoffs, a significant advantage as they look to make a deep postseason run. Savoie's breakout performance also provides a boost of momentum heading into the playoffs.

The details

Savoie, a rookie forward, scored all three of his goals in the first period, with assists from star center Connor McDavid. Colton Dach, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and rookie Josh Samanski also scored for the Oilers, who outshot the Canucks 35-12. Rookie Ty Mueller scored the lone goal for Vancouver, who finished the season with the worst record in the league.

  • The game was played on Thursday, April 17, 2026, the final game of the regular season.
  • Savoie's hat trick was the first of his NHL career.

The players

Matt Savoie

A rookie forward for the Edmonton Oilers who scored a hat trick in the regular season finale, helping the team clinch second place in the Pacific Division.

Connor McDavid

The star center for the Edmonton Oilers, who recorded four assists in the game and secured his sixth Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer.

Ty Mueller

A rookie forward for the Vancouver Canucks who scored his first NHL goal in the game.

Kevin Lankinen

The goaltender for the Vancouver Canucks, who made 29 saves in the loss.

Anaheim Ducks

The third-place team in the Pacific Division, who will face the Oilers in the first round of the playoffs.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The Oilers will host the Anaheim Ducks in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Monday.

The takeaway

Savoie's hat trick performance and the Oilers' second-place finish in the Pacific Division provide the team with momentum and home-ice advantage as they look to make a deep playoff run. The Oilers' success this season has been fueled by the continued dominance of Connor McDavid, who secured his sixth Art Ross Trophy.