Ducks mop up Oilers in Game 6, win first playoff series since 2017
Anaheim start hot with three-goal first period and hold off Edmonton, 5-2. Ducks will either travel to Vegas next week or host Utah to open the second round.
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe (2) celebrates with Leo Carlsson (91) during the NHL game against the Edmonton Oilers, Thursday April 30th, 2026 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. ANAHEIM, Calif. – There were plenty of nerves in the crowd at Honda Center after the Anaheim Ducks were forced to come back following a season-saving effort by the Oilers in Edmonton.
However, as Tim Washe shared from an old coach’s adage earlier in the series, “nerves are for the unprepared,” and the young Ducks looked plenty prepped to move this franchise forward on Thursday. Anaheim burst out with a three-goal first period and held off the back-to-back Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers, 5-2, to take Game 6 and their first-round series on Thursday at Honda Center. The Ducks won their first Stanley Cup Playoff series since their 2017 seven-game, second-round win over Edmonton, and Anaheim now awaits its second round opponent from the Vegas-Utah series.
Vegas takes a 3-2 series lead to Utah on Friday, with a potential Game 7 on Sunday. If the Golden Knights win, Anaheim will travel to Vegas to open the second round next week. If the Mammoth come back to take the series, the Ducks will host Utah to begin the next series.
Ryan Poehling, Chris Kreider, Cutter Gauthier, Troy Terry and Leo Carlsson all scored for Anaheim, with Gauthier netting the Ducks’ seventh power play goal of the series. Leo Carlsson registered two assists. Connor Murphy and Vasily Podkolzin pulled in Edmonton’s goals.