Gauthier Brace, Poehling Pair Stun Oilers — Ducks Even Series

Cutter Gauthier scored his first two NHL playoff goals — including the go-ahead at 15:08 of the third period — Ryan Poehling added two more (one short-handed, one into the empty net), and the Anaheim Ducks beat the Edmonton Oilers 6-4 at Rogers Place to even the Western Conference First Round series at 1-1.

Edmonton Oilers 4 - 6 Anaheim Ducks (periods 1-1, 2-3, 1-2)

Goals: 11:02 Draisaitl (PP), 31:46 Murphy, Hyman, 53:51 Samanski — Gauthier (PP), Trouba, Killorn (PP), Poehling (SH), Gauthier 54:45, Poehling 58:50 (EN).

Goalies: Pickard / Skinner — Dostal (33 saves).

Power play: EDM 0-for-4; ANA 2-for-3 plus a shortie. Series tied 1-1.

Trading punches early

Leon Draisaitl gave Edmonton a 1-0 lead at 11:02 of the first on the power play before Gauthier converted on his own man advantage to even it. The second period went volcanic — six goals in twenty minutes — as Trouba and Killorn put Anaheim ahead 3-1, Connor Murphy answered for his first career playoff goal at 11:46, Poehling restored a two-goal Ducks lead while shorthanded, and Zach Hyman cut the deficit before the buzzer.

Samanski ties it, Gauthier wins it

Josh Samanski tied the game 4-4 with his first career playoff goal at 13:51 of the third, igniting Rogers Place. The lead, however, lasted just 54 seconds. Gauthier pounced on a rebound from the bottom of the left face-off circle and buried his second of the game at 15:08 — 5-4 Anaheim. Poehling's empty-netter at 18:50 closed the door.

LaCombe runs the show

Jackson LaCombe registered three assists, all from the back end, anchoring an Anaheim power play that finished 2-for-3. The Ducks have now scored three power-play goals (plus a shorthanded goal) across two games. "Special teams, they outscored us three there," Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch said postgame. "As good as you are 5-on-5 or as much as you can score, it's pretty tough to overcome three goals there."

What it means

Anaheim's first playoff appearance since 2018 has produced its first playoff win in eight years — and the series shifts to Anaheim with the Ducks holding the psychological edge. Dostal made 33 saves, including a flurry late in the third when Edmonton emptied the net. McDavid was held without a goal for a second straight game.