3 Takeaways From Oilers’ 7-4 Win Against Ducks

Anaheim went three-for-four on the power play but also gave up a shorthanded goal. Edmonton was one-for-three with the man-advantage.

The Oilers improve their record to 27-19-8 and now have 62 points, tied with the Vegas Golden Knights for most in the Pacific Division.

Offensive Outburst From Oilers’ Defence

Just two nights after Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard had one of the all-time greatest offensive performances by a blueliner, recording three goals and three assists in a 6-5 overtime victory over the Washington Capitals at Rogers Place on Saturday (Jan. 24), his cohorts on the Oilers blue line decided to make some history of their own against Anaheim.

Edmonton turned a 2-1 deficit into a 5-2 lead during the second period, with goals from Stastney at 4:36, Ekholm at 6:28, Nurse at 7:34, and Ekholm again at 8:25. Those four goals in a span of 3:49 set a new NHL record for fastest four goals by one team, with all goals being scored by blueliners.

Then, with Husso pulled for the extra attacker late in the third period, Ekholm fired the puck all the way from behind his own net into Anaheim’s yawning cage to register his third goal, and in the process, make Edmonton the first team in NHL history with hat tricks in consecutive games by defencemen.

It was also the first hat trick of Ekholm’s 15-season NHL career. Fittingly, the first player to embrace him in celebration was Bouchard.

Before Saturday, only one Oilers defenceman had notched a hat trick since 1985. Now it’s happened twice in two games.

Jarry Comes Up Big When Needed

All these goals by Oilers defencemen are giving off serious 1980s vibes, and so too is Jarry’s performance between the pipes. While the new Edmonton netminder surrendered four goals on Monday, he deserves nothing but praise for his play, particularly in the third period.

Not unlike in the ‘80s, when the Oilers would go all-out offensively and leave Hall-of-Fame netminder Grant Fuhr to fend for himself, four goals against isn’t a bad night as long as Edmonton emerges victorious.

As 40 shots against would indicate, this was not a strong defensive performance by Edmonton. Once they took a three-goal lead midway through the second period, the Oilers took their foot off the gas, but Anaheim wasn’t going away. The Ducks blitzed Edmonton in the third, firing 10 shots on Jarry in the first 8:28 of the period alone, and pulled within one goal, at 5-4, when Granlund scored at 13:38.

But just like Fuhr was famously known for, Jarry wouldn’t allow the tying goal, and Edmonton was able to put the game away with empty-netters from McDavid and Ekholm.

Jarry’s stats over his nine games with the Oilers (3.23 goals-against average and .884 save percentage) aren’t impressive, but his record (6-2-1) certainly is.

Oilers’ Most Important Win of Season

With two points gained on Monday, the Oilers moved into a tie atop the Pacific Division. But even more importantly, winning in regulation put some distance between them and Anaheim.

Edmonton is now three points ahead of the Ducks, who occupy third place in the Pacific Division with 59 points from a record 28-22-3. Anaheim came into Rogers Place riding a seven-game win streak, and with a regulation win, the Ducks could have overtaken Edmonton for second place in the division.

Given that, it’s fair to call Monday’s win the biggest of the 2025-26 season for Edmonton. With only about one-third of the schedule remaining, and the Pacific Division standings still very tight, every game from here on out might as well be the playoffs.

Speaking of which, Edmonton’s next contest comes at home on Thursday (Jan. 29) against the San Jose Sharks. San Jose is currently fourth in the Pacific Division, five points back of the Oilers, so this is another “four-point game”. There’s a massive difference between Edmonton being seven points up on the Sharks as opposed to leading them by just three.

Also of note, on Thursday the Oilers will be going for their first three-game win streak of 2025-26. So far this season, Edmonton is 0-7-2 when attempting to win its third consecutive game.