The Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks are set to face off in Game 4 of their NHL playoff series on April 27, 2026, at Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The Oilers enter the game with a 2-1 series lead after winning Game 3 in overtime on April 25. The Ducks, seeking to avoid falling behind 3-1, will look to leverage home-ice advantage and strong goaltending to even the series.
Game 3 saw Oilers captain Connor McDavid score the overtime winner at 8:12 of the extra period, assisted by Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman. The goal came after Anaheim held a 2-1 lead entering the third period, only to see Edmonton tie it late through a power-play goal by Evan Bouchard. McDavid now leads all playoff scorers with 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists) through three games.
Edmonton’s head coach Kris Knoblauch emphasized resilience after the win, stating, “We’ve been in tight games all series. Finding a way to win when it matters most is what playoff hockey is about.” His comments were made during the post-game press conference broadcast on Sportsnet and verified via the NHL’s official site.
Key Matchups and Adjustments
Anaheim will look to adjust its defensive coverage against McDavid and Draisaitl, who have combined for 21 points in the series. Ducks head coach Greg Cronin indicated in his pre-game availability that the team will increase pressure on Edmonton’s blue line to limit transition opportunities, a tactic used sparingly in Games 1 and 2.
Goaltending remains a critical factor. Oilers starter Stuart Skinner has posted a .920 save percentage in the series, whereas Ducks netminder Lukas Dostal is averaging 32 saves per game. Dostal stopped 38 of 40 shots in Game 3, earning second star honors despite the loss.
Special teams could prove decisive. Edmonton has converted 3 of 12 power-play opportunities (25.0%), while Anaheim has killed 8 of 9 penalties (88.9%). Conversely, the Ducks are 1-for-8 on the man advantage (12.5%), a concern Cronin acknowledged when stating, “We need to create more traffic and get second chances if we’re going to score with the man advantage.”
Injury Updates and Line Combinations
Edmonton will be without defenseman Mattias Ekholm, who remains out with an upper-body injury sustained in Game 1. His absence has been filled by veteran Brett Kulak, who logged over 24 minutes in Game 3. Ekholm’s status is day-to-day, per Oilers general manager Ken Holland, who spoke briefly with reporters after the team’s morning skate on April 26.
Anaheim is expected to welcome back forward Ross Johnston to the lineup after he missed Game 3 due to illness. Johnston, known for his physical presence, averaged 11:30 of ice time in the first two games. His return could provide a spark for the Ducks’ fourth line, which has struggled to generate sustained pressure.
Line combinations remain largely unchanged for both teams. Edmonton is likely to roll with its top line of McDavid-Draisaitl-Hyman, while Anaheim may keep its second line of Trevor Zegras, Mason McTavish, and Frank Vatrano intact after they combined for two assists in Game 3.
Series Context and Implications
The winner of Game 4 will take a commanding 3-1 series lead, with Game 5 scheduled for April 29 in Edmonton. No team in NHL history has come back to win a best-of-seven series after falling behind 3-1 in the first four games since the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, when the Dallas Stars defeated the Colorado Rockies in the Western Conference First Round.
For the Oilers, a win would put them one victory away from advancing to the Western Conference Final for the first time since 2022. The Ducks, meanwhile, are aiming to turn into the first eighth-seeded team to defeat a first-seed in the first round since the 2012 Los Angeles Kings knocked out the Vancouver Canucks.
As both teams prepare for Game 4, the focus remains on execution, discipline, and goaltending. With the series shifting back to Anaheim, the Ducks will look to protect their home ice and force a return to Edmonton with the series tied.
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