Savoie Scores Hat Trick as Oilers Clinch No. 2 Seed in Pacific

McDavid dishes 4 assists as Edmonton secures home-ice advantage for first-round matchup with Ducks

Apr. 17, 2026 at 3:52am

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An abstract, expressionist painting featuring vibrant neon brushstrokes and splatters of color that capture the raw energy and excitement of a hockey game, with the player's jersey number and the puck blending into the dynamic composition.Savoie's hat trick heroics fuel the Oilers' playoff-clinching victory over the Canucks.Anaheim Today

Matt Savoie scored the first hat trick of his NHL career in the first period, and the Edmonton Oilers secured second place in the Pacific Division with a 6-1 win against the Vancouver Canucks in their regular-season finale at Rogers Place on Thursday. As a result of the victory, the Oilers will have home-ice advantage when they face the Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference First Round.

Why it matters

The Oilers' win over the Canucks ensures they will open the playoffs at home against the Ducks, a significant advantage as they look to make a deep postseason run. Edmonton had lost two straight and four of five heading into the game, so this decisive win provides momentum heading into the playoffs.

The details

Connor McDavid had four assists, and Evan Bouchard had three assists for the Oilers. Colton Dach had a goal and an assist, and Connor Ingram made 11 saves. Ty Mueller scored his first career goal, and Kevin Lankinen made 29 saves for the Canucks.

  • The game was played on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
  • Savoie scored his hat trick in the first period.

The players

Matt Savoie

A 22-year-old forward for the Edmonton Oilers who scored the first hat trick of his NHL career.

Connor McDavid

The captain of the Edmonton Oilers, who had four assists in the game.

Ty Mueller

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

Kevin Lankinen

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

Anaheim Ducks

The Oilers' first-round playoff opponent, who Edmonton will face with home-ice advantage after this win.

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What they’re saying

“This was a big win for us heading into the playoffs. Securing home ice is huge, and Savoie's hat trick was a huge boost for our team.”

— Connor McDavid, Captain, Edmonton Oilers

What’s next

The Oilers will now prepare to host the Anaheim Ducks in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with Game 1 scheduled for next Tuesday.

The takeaway

Edmonton's decisive win over Vancouver not only clinched the No. 2 seed in the Pacific Division, but also provided the Oilers with valuable momentum and home-ice advantage as they look to make a deep playoff run and compete for the Stanley Cup.