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Mistakes cost Oilers as Ducks snag 6-4 Game 2 win: Recap, Reaction and Highlights
Edmonton Oilers Anaheim Ducks
Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Apr 23, 2026, 01:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 23, 2026, 01:24 EDT
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The Edmonton Oilers were never going to go 16-0.
On Wednesday evening, the Oilers and Anaheim Ducks played Game 2 of their first-round series, with the Oilers falling 6-4 thanks to a late Ducks goal to even up the series at one each. Let’s take a look at what went on in this one.
For the second consecutive game, the Oilers opened the scoring. Midway through the first, Jake Walman ripped a shot from the point, with the rebound bouncing to the corner where Leon Draisaitl was. Draisaitl attempted a cross-ice pass, but it deflected off a Duck and into the back of the net.
The Ducks were on a power play with about seven minutes left in the first. In the corner, they got away with a high stick on Evan Bouchard and took possession of the loose puck. It went back to the point, and Cutter Gauthier ripped it post and in to tie the game at one. This was a pretty bad missed call.
Once again, the Oilers came out of the first intermission looking lethargic. Less than three minutes into the second period, the Ducks had sustained zone time. The puck found its way back to Jacob Trouba at the point, with his seeing-eye shot beating Connor Ingram to give the Ducks the lead.
The big storyline from this game was Connor McDavid’s injury. He got tangled up with Mattias Ekholm in the neutral zone and didn’t put any weight on his right leg. He eventually returned, but didn’t look like himself. Keep that in mind.
Toward the end of the season, Matthew Savoie took a few bad stick infractions. He did it again four and a half minutes into the second period. A minute later, the Ducks extended their lead to 3-1. Alex Killorn had the puck down low, took it to the net and attempted a pass. The pass deflected off Ingram’s pad, and Killorn fired it home.
Needing a goal, the Oilers got back into it with about eight minutes left in the second period. Kasperi Kapanen had a tremendous keep at the line, Draisaitl shrugged off a check, and got the puck to Connor Murphy at the point. The defenceman was able to fire it past Lukáš Dostál for his first career postseason goal.
Darnell Nurse drew a slashing call with just over six minutes left. However, it was the Ducks that were the goal scorers on the power play, as McDavid uncharacteristically threw the puck to an open board. Unfortunately, Killorn was the first on it, and his shot was deflected home by Ryan Poehling.
With just over two minutes left in the second period, the Oilers cut the lead to one once again. The puck found its way to the point, and Mattias Ekholm ripped a slap pass to the front of the net. Zach Hyman was able to deflect it past the netminder to make it 4-3. Are you noticing a trend with the Oilers’ goals?
The Oilers found themselves down a goal in the final 10 minutes, just like last game. Down to just six minutes left in the game, the Oilers established the cycle. Jack Roslovic made a terrific pass from behind the net to Josh Samanski, who one-timed it past Dostál for his first career postseason goal. Matthew Savoie picked up his first career playoff assist.
Of course, the Ducks responded less than a minute and a half later. Mattias Ekholm committed an icing despite plenty of time. On the ensuing faceoff, a shot from the point deflected onto Ingram. Evan Bouchard swiped the puck towards the corner, but Gauthier was right there to restore the Ducks’ lead. An empty netter with 70 seconds iced the game.

TUNE INTO AFTER DARK

Takeaways…

So the big concern with this game is Connor McDavid’s injury. Namely, how injured is he? Is this a type of injury he can play through and still play at an elite level? It didn’t look great, and that turnover was horrendous. Hopefully it’s an injury that looks worse than it actually is.
That said, McDavid has not been good in these playoffs, before or after the injury. Just like Game 1, he tried to skate through the Ducks and they just got it off his stick. It was pretty much the same case in this game, even before the injury. The top line has been shut down by the Ducks fourth line in two consecutive games. That just can’t happen.
At least the Oilers’ depth is playing well. Jason Dickinson scored twice in Game 1, as did Kasperi Kapanen. In this game, Josh Samanski and Connor Murphy found the back of the net.
The Oilers special teams have been horrendous so far this series. On the penalty kill, they have allowed three goals on four chances. On their own power plays, they’re 0/6 and have given up a shorthanded goal.
Evan Bouchard was better through the first 40 minutes, but struggled in the third. In the first, the right-shot defenceman played some solid defence in the first 40 minutes, especially on the rush chance shortly before the Ducks’ first goal. Speaking of which, that missed call was a bad one. A high stick is a high stick, it has to be called.
Jake Walman had another good game, picking up an assist on the Oilers’ first goal, his third of the season. He had a pretty tough regular season, but he’s elevated in the playoffs big time.
So has Kapanen. On top of scoring two goals in Game 1, he picked up an assist on the Oilers’ second goal thanks to a terrific keep. Kapanen has always been a player who performs in big moments.
Josh Samanski scored his first career playoff goal, which also happened to be his third NHL goal. It’s the first time he’s actually beaten a goaltender with a shot, and oh boy did they ever need it.
Tough game for Connor Ingram between the pipes, allowing five goals on 27 shots for an .815 save percentage. Five goals are just far too much.
It’s not a best of seven for no reason. The series shifts to Anaheim for Game 3, which is set to take place on Friday at 8:00 PM MT. Hopefully, the injury news is good for McDavid, and hopefully they wake up.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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