Edmonton Oilers 2026 Playoffs: Round 1, Anaheim Ducks

The worst pillow fight ever is over; the Edmonton Oilers are in the NHL Playoffs again. What a weird way to clinch it was. Only having two 3 game winning streaks all regular season long, trading a struggling goalie in December that you drafted and had back-to-back Cup Final appearances with just to have goaltending still be borderline average or below average, and only clinching a Playoff spot because other teams either did you favors or kept losing their own games. The Pacific Division was so bad this season that none of the teams in it that are still playing hockey now would even be in the Playoffs if they were in the Eastern Conference. The Capitals finished with the same amount of points as the Golden Knights, but missed out by 4 points. The Kings had 20 Overtime/Shootout losses, could’ve won our division if they split half of those and got 10 more regulation wins. They clinched the second Wild Card spot with fewer points than the Red Wings, Blue Jackets, and Islanders. Two of those three teams had the same point total as the Mammoth, who clinched the first Wild Card spot. 90 was the magic number in the West, 99 was the magic number in the East. So this is how Flames fans felt last year.

If you’ve read my opinion articles before, you may remember that I’m an Oilers fan who lives in Toronto. The Maple Leafs completely gave up on the season after the NHL came back from the Olympic break. But for a little while longer, they could’ve still been close, maybe even in, if they were a Western Conference team. From the perspective of someone who feels like an outsider within, the differences in vibes and paranoia are only funny when it’s not your team.

While this wasn’t our team’s only quirky season, it was perhaps the quirkiest in the McDavid/Draisaitl era, and that is saying a lot. But forget it, what matters is we’re in, and anything can happen. I’m not sure how many other people agree, but it feels nice not to have the same Round 1 opponents again this time; four years in a row was more than enough. It might be fun to build new Playoff memories with others instead. The keys to the series are…

Younger VS Older: This year’s Anaheim Ducks team reminds me a little bit of the Oilers back in 2017. A younger team with some veteran presence, breaking a Playoff drought and having their first round matchup against an older roster that had just gone to the Finals. The only similarity is that the Oilers have home ice advantage this year, just like they did that year. The Ducks will need their old guards to teach them, while the Oilers look to humble their young pups.

Comeback Kids: Anaheim had 26 come-from-behind wins during the regular season. Edmonton tends to have this same mindset as well; they turn it on after they start poorly and look like they’re already out of it. I understand that Playoff games get tighter defensively, but I’ve never agreed with just letting up after having a big lead. Don’t stop playing, but don’t score more goals? Nonsense, I say. Game-changing flukes can happen at any time. Even if you have a comfortable lead, don’t ever let your opponents take an opportunity to climb back in it.

Cool Hand Luk(as): Remember the 25-year-old goalie Lukas Dostal’s 46-save performance against the Oilers at Rogers Place in his rookie season? That was fun, and one of those moments against our team that sticks with us forever. Connor Ingram isn’t a star, but he has undoubtedly earned the #1 role in Edmonton’s crease. Tristan Jarry was traded to Edmonton for Stuart Skinner and has looked even worse than he did in Pittsburgh. Calvin Pickard had heroic moments as Edmonton’s backup the previous two postseasons, and was now just called back up to be their third-string goalie. Extra saves are needed against a netminder that Oilers fans are more than familiar with.

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