Oilers buck trend of poor Game 1 performances with win over Ducks

Game 1’s haven’t always been kind to the Edmonton Oilers.

In fact, things rarely go their way. But on Monday night, the Oilers bucked that trend with a big come-from-behind Game 1 win over the Anaheim Ducks. In doing so, it gave the Oilers just their sixth Game 1 win in the Connor McDavid era, moving the team to 6-12 over that stretch.

First round

The win pushed the Oilers to 2-5 in first-round Game 1’s. Monday night was the second, but the Oilers’ first came in 2024, with a 7-4 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

Beyond that? It’s been rough.

Their first loss came in 2017 against the San Jose Sharks, losing 3-2 in overtime in a game where the likes of McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins et al played in their first playoff game. The Sharks outshot the Oilers a staggering 44-19 in that one.

Then it was a 4-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets in the first round of the 2021 playoffs, kicking off what would be a waste of eight days, getting swept in four games. We can all scrub that one from our minds at this point, right?

Next was the Kings series. They dropped Game 1 in each of 2022 (4-3), 2023 (4-3 OT), and 2024 (6-5). The Oilers, as we all know, came from behind in each of those series to advance to the second round.

Second round

The Oilers have fared ever-so-slightly-better in the second round. They won Game 1 against the Anaheim Ducks in 2017, putting together a solid 5-3 victory in a tight game.

Then, three straight losses. They dropped Game 1 against the Calgary Flames in 2022 in a chaotic 9-6 loss, and fell to the Vegas Golden Knights 6-4 in 2023. Edmonton didn’t fare much better against the Vancouver Canucks in 2024, losing 5-4, but the Oilers would roar back to end their season earlier than they hoped.

Edmonton would exact their Game 1 loss to the Golden Knights last spring, putting together a 4-2 win.

Conference Final and Stanley Cup Final

There’s only three Conference Final games to look at: an 8-6 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in 2022, a 3-2 overtime win over the Dallas Stars in 2024, and a 6-3 loss to the Stars last spring.

When it comes to the Cup final, Edmonton lost 2024’s Game 1 getting shutout by the Florida Panthers 3-0 on the road, but Leon Draisaitl’s overtime winner would give them a 4-3 win.