The Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks are looking to take a lead in their first round matchup as the series moves to Anaheim Friday night.
The Oilers opened the series with a 4-3 win in Edmonton on Monday, before the Ducks leveled the series with a 6-4 win in Game 2 on Wednesday.
Vasily Podkolzin opened the scoring in Game 3, giving the Oilers the lead in the first on a wrist shot past Lukas Dostal.
The goal would come after the Ducks were unable to capitalize on a few chances early in the first, and were outshooting the Oilers 11-3.
The Oilers’ lead wouldn’t last long, as three minutes and five seconds later, Mason McTavish tipped a shot from Drew Helleson, bouncing the puck off the ice, then over Connor Ingram’s arm, making it 1-1.
Just 87 seconds later, Mikael Grandlund would capitalize on a rebound in the slot, putting the puck past Ingrah, to give the Ducks a 2-1 lead late in the first. The goal came on a power play, after Josh Samanski took a high-sticking penalty.
Just under four minutes into the second period, Leon Draisaitl would send a backhand pass into the slot, finding Kasperi Kapanen, who would fire a shot past Dostal to make it 2-2.
About a minute and a half later, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins would collect a rebound off a blueline shot from Evan Bouchard, giving the Oilers the lead.
Anaheim Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal (1), Jackson LaCombe (2) and Edmonton Oilers’ Curtis Lazar (20) scramble for the puck during second period NHL action, in Edmonton on Saturday March 28, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/James Maclennan