EDMONTON — The Anaheim Ducks’ five-game roadtrip through Western Canada continued Saturday afternoon at Rogers Place, where the Ducks were treated to another sound drubbing, this time at the hands of the playoff-bound Edmonton Oilers.
Defending Hart Trophy winner Connor McDavid scored two goals and added an assist in the Oilers 6-1 win. McDavid now holds the NHL points lead, with a slight edge over Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov.
Alex Killorn tipped in a Cam Fowler point shot with just over four minutes left for the Ducks’ lone goal. They are 0-3 on the current roadtrip, which continues Sunday in Vancouver against the Pacific Division leaders, the Canucks.
The Oilers’ goal-scoring outburst began less than four minutes into the game when Adam Henrique, whom the Ducks traded to Edmonton on March 6, broke in alone on Anaheim’s John Gibson. Henrique’s initial shot was blocked by Gibson, but a juicy rebound bounced right onto Henrique’s stick and he ripped it home to give Edmonton a 1-0 lead.
Just over four minutes later, McDavid turned on the afterburners, skated right around Bo Groulx, and beat Gibson high stick side to make it 2-0 Oilers.
Perhaps the most positive note of the game for Anaheim was a significant improvement in staying out of the penalty box. Anaheim allowed the Oilers only three power play opportunities; Friday night they gave up 10 to the Seattle Kraken.
Edmonton added a Mattias Ekholm goal later in the third period before Anaheim managed its first legitimate scoring chance of the game. That moment came when Trevor Zegras carried the puck into the Oilers zone, skated up the right side, then delivered a whirling, backhand pass to Frank Vatrano infront of the Edmonton net. Unfortunately for the ducks, Vatrano’s tap-in attempt went just wide of the net.
McDavid scored his second goal midway through the second period after Brett Leason was whistled for high sticking. McDavid executed a perfect give-and-go with Leon Draisaitl and buried his 29th goal of the season.
