The Edmonton Oilers won Game 1 despite Connor McDavid not scoring, marking the first win of the season without his contribution. Kasperi Kapanen and Jason Dickinson each scored two goals to secure a 4-3 victory.
Key points
Oilers won Game 1 with a score of 4-3
Connor McDavid did not score any points
Kasperi Kapanen and Jason Dickinson each scored two goals
The win marked the first of the season without McDavid's contribution
Oilers improved their performance in the third period
There hadnāt been a game all season that the Edmonton Oilers had won without Connor McDavid recording a point. On Monday night, with the stakes raised, that changed. McDavid didn't have it, and it took two goals each from Kasperi Kapanen and Jason Dickinson to pull the Oilers through.
At times, it wasn't pretty. A strong first 20 minutes was followed by a dud second frame. Edmonton found its game in the third and played well enough to pull out a 4-3 win, but it came down to the final seconds.
Ultimately, the Oilers walk away with the win. The Anaheim Ducks will walk away feeling like they have a shot in this series.
The Ducks Focused on McDavid
The Ducks targeted No. 97, and it worked. The result was that McDavid had neither a goal nor an assist. More than that, he struggled to control the puck, make zone entries, and maintain possession. The power play looked sloppy, and the top line was quiet. It was an off night.
The good news is that McDavid won't stay off the scoresheet throughout the series. The bad news is that Anaheim now knows it can limit not only its chances, but also those of Edmonton's elite offensive players. Evan Bouchard, Zach Hyman, Matt Savoie, Jack Roslovic, and were all held scoreless, as well.
Q&A
How did the Edmonton Oilers win Game 1 without Connor McDavid scoring?
The Oilers secured a 4-3 victory with two goals each from Kasperi Kapanen and Jason Dickinson, despite McDavid's quiet night.
What was the significance of the Oilers winning without McDavid's points?
This marked the first time all season that the Oilers won a game without Connor McDavid recording a point, highlighting the team's depth.
What was the score of the Oilers' Game 1 victory?
The Edmonton Oilers defeated their opponent 4-3 in Game 1.
How did the Oilers perform in the different periods of the game?
The Oilers had a strong first period, struggled in the second, but rebounded in the third to secure the win.
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Leon Draisaitl posted two assists in his return to the lineup. However, even he admitted, "Not our best, not our sharpest."
The Oilers Started Strong But Faded Until the End
The Oilers started Game 1 of the 2026 NHL Playoffs with all the momentum. An emotional Rogers Place welcomed the team back to the postseason, and the anthem brought with it the typical playoff goosebumps.
Connor Ingram was asked about the atmosphere and said, "It's loud in there. After the anthem, one thing I always do is smile and take it all in. That was one today where I was like, this is cool." Dickinson felt it too. He talked about having to gather himself, and although he was warned that the environment, this was something unique. He learned firsthand how emotional it can be.
The players responded with two goals in the first and stretches of hockey in the first 20 minutes that made it look like this game would be a runaway. It was exactly the kind of play they wanted and head coach Kris Knoblauch said after the game he didn't think they could have played a better first period.
