After 7 seasons without playoffs, Anaheim Ducks surge into 2nd round with a stellar series win
The hungry Ducks made it to the playoffs and clearly they're not just happy to be here.
Apr 30, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks players celebrate after game six of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Kirby Lee/Kirby Lee-Imagn Images ANAHEIM, Calif. — When Joel Quenneville took over the long-suffering Anaheim Ducks nearly a year ago, the veteran head coach cautiously said he hoped to get his new team into contention this season for its first playoff spot since 2018.
His young, hungry Ducks made it to the playoffs, all right — and clearly they're not just happy to be here. Nearly after winning the Pacific Division in a surprisingly strong regular season, these Ducks ended the franchise’s eight-year postseason drought — and now they’ve eliminated Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the two-time defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers with a six-game series victory in the first round. Anaheim finished it off with a 5-2 victory in Game 6, calmly dispatching its more experienced opponents with the poise and potency that this team has shown for long stretches this season.
Quenneville only could applaud as his team took the next step on its journey. “It’s a huge win,” Quenneville said. “I’m happy for the players.
I’m happy for the fans. And now we’ve got a taste of playoff hockey, and I think we can feel at this moment that it’s so much fun playing games that have the meaning, and the building being as loud and excited as it is. It seems to grow from this level on.
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