Ducks vs Oilers Round 1, Game 1 Preview: A Tighter Matchup Than Expected

(Perry Nelson-Imagn Images)

On Monday April 20, 2026, at 10PM EST, the Anaheim Ducks are set to take on the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place Arena for Game 1, Round 1 of the 2025-26 Stanley Cup Playoffs. In this recently completed regular season, the Ducks have a 1-2 record against the Oilers, acquiring only a 33% win percentage from this token sample size.

The Ducks look to complete a Playoff series upset as the underdogs competing against the defending 2x consecutive Stanley Cup finalists. The Oilers finished the regular season only 1 point ahead of the Ducks, proving the overall production gap between the two teams is much smaller than most may think.

As the 2025–26 NHL regular season has wrapped up, a few standout performers have paved the way offensively for their respective teams. Here’s a breakdown of the top contributors this year for the Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers: 

The Ducks have shown impressive scoring ability throughout the season, highlighted by their emerging young talent.

• Points Leader: Cutter Gauthier — 69 points through 76 games (0.91 Avg.)

• Goals Leader: Cutter Gauthier — 41 goals through 76 games (0.54 Avg.)

• Assists Leader: Jackson LaCombe — 48 assists through 82 games (0.59 Avg.)

Gauthier has proved to be an offensive centerpiece for Anaheim, leading both in total points and goals, while LaCombe played a key role as the team’s go-to playmaker. 

Edmonton once again built their offense around one of the league's very best.

• Points Leader: Connor McDavid — 138 points through 82 games (1.68 Avg.)

• Goals Leader: Connor McDavid — 48 goals through 82 games (0.59 Avg.)

• Assists Leader: Connor McDavid — 90 assists through 82 games (1.10 Avg.)

McDavid delivered yet another outstanding season, leading the Oilers across all major offensive categories and continuing to set the standard for elite performance in the NHL.

Both teams leaned heavily on their top players, with Anaheim’s young talent and Edmonton benefiting from their franchise centre.

It’s no surprise that Connor McDavid knows how to put goals, assists and points on the board for his team. However, if the Ducks can find a way to limit his production, they may have a real shot at taking down the Oilers in this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs.

References

NHL Player Stats. (2026). NHL.com