Oilers Defence Breaks It Open Against the Ducks

Edmonton Oilers 7, Anaheim Ducks 4

From the Edmonton side, this one felt steady before it felt spectacular. The Oilers took a few punches early, let Anaheim take the lead, and let the game breathe. But once it turned, it turned hard. Edmonton’s 7–4 win over the Ducks wasn’t about chasing highlights — it was about recognizing when the ice tilted and pressing the advantage without apology.

Anaheim came in hot, riding a seven-game winning streak, and played like a team with confidence. Mikael Granlund made that clear early on the power play, and Ville Husso even stared down Connor McDavid on a penalty shot. For a moment, it looked like one of those nights where Edmonton might have to grind. Then the Oilers’ defence decided otherwise.

The second period became the hinge. Edmonton didn’t just score — it overwhelmed.

Key Point One: The Oilers Mattias Ekholm’s Moment.

Mattias Ekholm’s first NHL hat trick didn’t feel fluky or sentimental. It felt earned. The 35-year-old defenceman picked his spots, jumped into the rush with purpose, and finished with calm authority — twice at even strength, once into an empty net.

Ekholm wasn’t chasing offence. He was reading it. His timing turned a competitive game into one Anaheim couldn’t quite recover from.

Key Point Two: The Oilers Defence Was the Team’s Engine.

Four goals from defencemen in under four minutes isn’t noise — it’s a system clicking. Evan Bouchard, Darnell Nurse, Spencer Stastney, and Ekholm all contributed to a stretch where Edmonton’s blue line controlled pace and territory.

Turnovers were punished immediately. Gaps were tight. Ducks defenders were forced backward instead of setting. When your defence drives offence like that, you don’t need to move anything else.

Key Point Three: The Oilers Stars Were Supporting, Not Forcing.

Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman each finished with a goal and an assist, while Leon Draisaitl quietly stacked four assists. None of it felt urgent. The stars let the game come to them, and that restraint mattered.

Tristan Jarry, meanwhile, handled 36 shots and gave Edmonton stability when Anaheim made its third-period push.

Final Thoughts from the Oilers’ Perspective

This wasn’t a perfect game — Anaheim’s power play exposed some soft coverage. However, Edmonton bent without panicking, then imposed itself decisively.

Back-to-back games with defencemen scoring hat tricks won’t become a trend, but the message underneath matters more. When the Oilers play connected, they don’t need to chase games — they finish them. With the standings tightening, nights like this feel less like entertainment and more like intent.

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