The Anaheim Ducks and the Edmonton Oilers are all set to face off in the first round of the 2026 NHL Playoffs. Both teams were in excellent form this season, and they qualified for the playoffs by finishing second and third in the Pacific Division, respectively.
The Ducks have been in a rebuilding period for years, and this is their first playoff appearance since 2018. This season, the team had a 43-33-6 record for a total of 92 points, placing third in the Pacific Division.
On the other side, the Oilers have had a lot of ups and downs, but things have been going well for them. They, too, have an excellent regular-season record of 41-30-11 for a total of 93 points, finishing one point ahead of the Ducks in the division. Both sides are evenly matched on paper, making it an interesting matchup for the fans.
The first game of their playoff series is scheduled for Monday. And for fans who want to watch it, here’s the TV schedule and streaming information:
For the fans in the USA:
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TV channels: ESPN, TNT, and TruTV
- Live streams: DIRECTV, fubo, and the ESPN app
For the fans in Canada:
- Sportsnet and Sportsnet+
The game is quite interesting because, on the one hand, the Ducks will have a youthful core playing with a lot of hunger. The Oilers, on the other hand, come in with some highly experienced guys who have been playoff tested. To date, the rivalry has been rather balanced, with both teams winning one playoff game against each other.
When Did the Ducks and the Oilers Face off Against Each Other in the Playoffs?
The Ducks and Oilers have only met twice in the playoffs over the last decade. The first was in the 2006 Western Conference Finals, when the Oilers dominated the seven-game series and won 4-1.
The second was their last playoff faceoff, which occurred in the 2017 Western Conference second round. The teams had one of their greatest playoff rounds, playing all seven games until the Ducks won with a 4-3 advantage.
Edmonton will be seeking to get revenge for this loss, and with luck, it will have home ice advantage in the first two games. On the other hand, the Ducks have qualified for the playoffs after an eight-year absence, and they would like to extend this year’s postseason run.
Apart from all this, the Oilers will also be concerned about the availability of Leon Draisaitl. The forward is out with a lower-body injury, and it is unclear when he will be able to return. Draisaitl was a major player for the Edmonton Oilers in the last two postseason seasons, and he was even the team’s leading scorer last season.
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