3 Keys to an Oilers Game 2 Victory vs Ducks – The Hockey Writers – Edmonton Oilers

It was a dramatic Monday evening (April 20) at Rogers Place as the Edmonton Oilers pulled off their first win of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was an up-and-down affair for them, but they ultimately took down the Anaheim Ducks 4-3 and take a 1-0 series lead into Game 2 on Wednesday night (April 22) in Edmonton. They won, but the Oilers still have some things to adjust if they want to extend their lead before heading on the road for a couple.

It was indeed a roller coaster ride of a game. The Oilers went up two goals after the first, then the Ducks stormed back and took a 3-2 lead to the third, and finally, Edmonton buried two late goals to seal a victory. It wasn’t pretty by any means, but they will take it. As we move to the second game, let’s look at a few key areas for the Oilers to focus on that should help them find a much easier path to victory.

Oilers Need Full 60 Minutes

The most obvious key to a smoother win that made things difficult on Monday: a complete game. The Oilers are a team that seemingly plays better from behind and always pulls off magic in the playoffs, but it really isn’t a reliable and efficient method going forward.

It was a near-perfect first period for Edmonton, then the following roughly 30 minutes were stale, and then they rallied and escaped. They also outshot Anaheim 14-4 in the first, but then were outshot in the following two periods. A more rounded effort with checking and offensive pressure will help them get the job done easier in Game 2.

Fourth Line Should See More Ice Time

You obviously want your best players getting the majority of ice time in the playoffs, no question about it. However, the playoffs are also a time of heightened physicality and emotion, something that a team’s fourth line can usually better provide. The Oilers’ fourth forward unit of Adam Henrique, Trent Frederic, and Colton Dach played that role exactly in Game 1, but all with under nine minutes on the ice.

Henrique did leave early with an injury and is ruled out for Game 2, but the other two fourth liners should be factored into Game 2’s plans more. Dach and Frederic combined for 10 hits, a blocked shot, and a takeaway while each playing just over eight and a half minutes each. They bring a lot of juice and can create momentum at the drop of a hat. Head coach Kris Knoblauch may want to utilize them more moving forward.

With Henrique missing an undefined amount of time, Edmonton will need a replacement at the fourth line centre position. Curtis Lazar and rookie Josh Samanski are a couple of potentials to slot in, both presenting strong cases as speedy forwards with grit. Ultimately, I think Samanski has the edge, given that he has played between Frederic and Dach more this season, and the Oilers have clearly liked what they have seen as he played in 24 games in the regular season.

Oilers Need Fast Breakouts

It’s a small part of the game, but breaking out of their own zone is something the Oilers will need to focus on more in Game 2. They had noticeable trouble at times in Game 1 in simply clearing their own zone, which ultimately led to a couple of goals and a few high-danger chances. Sloppy stick play and slow reactions led to the Ducks’ tying goal on Monday night.

🚨 Leo 🚨

This game is tied!!#FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/wBTBhsWeNK

— x – Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) April 21, 2026

If the Oilers aren’t more efficient in their end, the Ducks are a team that will continuously capitalize. They finished ninth in the NHL in the regular season in takeaways from opponents. They have fast and aggressive forwards who will not stop pursuing in the offensive end, so clean play is important for Edmonton.

Game 2 will likely be a different hockey game, as the Ducks will be coming even harder with a win being more important for them. The Oilers will need to hit on these points and keep playing their game to match their pace.