The Edmonton Oilers suffered a tough 7-4 defeat against the Anaheim Ducks in Game 3 of their Stanley Cup Playoffs first-round series on April 24, 2026. The game featured a strong comeback by the Oilers after a poor first period, but two critical turnovers by defenseman Evan Bouchard in the third period allowed the younger, faster Ducks to pull away.
Game Summary
The Oilers were outplayed in the first period, falling behind early. However, they battled back to tie the game before the Ducks regained control. Bouchard's mistakes on two Anaheim rushes proved costly, leading to goals that sealed the victory for the Ducks.
Player Grades
Connor McDavid, 7. Scored one goal and added an assist. He appeared to be playing through an injury, showing speed but lacking explosive agility. His turnover in the neutral zone led to the tying goal for the Ducks. He also took a late crosscheck penalty that negated an Oilers power play. Even Strength (EV) Grade A shots plus-minus: +4, -1; Special Teams (ST): +1, -0.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 6. After being moved off McDavid's line, he scored Edmonton's third goal by jamming in a rebound. He also hit the crossbar late in the third. EV: +2, -1; ST: +2, -0.
Zach Hyman, 6. Contributed to Podkolzin's 1-0 goal with a hard net drive. He was physical but unable to generate much offensively. EV: +1, -1; ST: +1, -0.
The Oilers now face a critical Game 4 as they look to even the series.
