Ducks dismantle Oilers in six games as LaCombe shuts down McDavid

Key facts

• Anaheim Ducks defeated Edmonton Oilers 4-2 in the first round, winning Game 6 5-2.
• Jackson LaCombe recorded 9 points (1-8=9) in 6 games, leading all defensemen in scoring.
• LaCombe was on ice against Connor McDavid for 66:09 at 5v5; Ducks outscored Oilers 6-2 and controlled 67.3% of expected goals in those minutes.
• Oilers goaltenders Connor Ingram and Tristan Jarry ranked bottom-four and 16th out of 21 in goals-saved above expected per 60.
• Edmonton carried $8 million in dead cap next season from Jarry ($5.375M) and Jack Campbell's buyout.
• Ducks averaged 6.5 penalty minutes per game, lowest in the first round, after being sixth-most penalized in regular season (814 PIM).
• Oilers power play, ranked first in NHL at 30.6%, scored only 4 goals on 14 opportunities (71.4% kill rate allowed).

Upset in the West: Anaheim's Youth Overwhelms Edmonton's Stars

The Anaheim Ducks have eliminated the Edmonton Oilers in six games, winning the first-round series 4-2 with a decisive 5-2 victory in Game 6. It is the Ducks' first playoff series win since 2017, when they also defeated the Oilers, and their first postseason appearance since 2018. The Oilers, back-to-back Western Conference champions and heavy favorites, were undone by a faster, hungrier Anaheim team that refused to yield momentum. From the opening puck drop, the Ducks dictated the pace. Anaheim out-chanced Edmonton off the rush 10-4 in odd-man situations in Game 6 alone, and generated 18 scoring chances off turnovers to the Oilers' 10. Every time Edmonton threatened to build momentum, the Ducks countered with a swift transition, exploiting the Oilers' defensive gaps.

LaCombe's Masterclass: Shutting Down McDavid While Leading Offense

Jackson LaCombe emerged as the series' defining player, tying for second among all skaters with nine points (one goal, eight assists) in six games and leading all defensemen in scoring. His five-on-five numbers were staggering: in 138:24 of ice time, the Ducks controlled 64.06% of shots, 60.81% of shot attempts, and 65.63% of expected goals. More critically, he was head coach Joel Quenneville's primary matchup against Connor McDavid. When LaCombe shared the ice with McDavid at five-on-five for 66:09, the Ducks outshot the Oilers 42-19, out-attempted them 78-50, and outscored them 6-2. LaCombe defended rushes with poise, broke out efficiently, and joined the attack to generate offense. "This guy is really good," Ducks forward Troy Terry said after Game 6, pointing at LaCombe. "That team had been to two cup finals... He really is that good."

Oilers' Goaltending Gamble Backfires: Jarry and Ingram Fail to Deliver

Edmonton's goaltending, a known weakness entering the playoffs, proved disastrous. Connor Ingram ranked among the bottom four of 21 playoff goalies in goals-saved above expected per 60 minutes, acquired at the trade deadline to replace the struggling Stuart Skinner, fared only slightly better at 16th out of 21. Jarry appeared in just one of six games, making him effectively unusable despite carrying a $5.375 million cap hit for two more seasons. Combined with Jack Campbell's buyout, the Oilers face nearly $8 million in dead cap next season for goaltenders they deem unplayable. The situation raises questions about general manager Stan Bowman's decision-making, especially given that Connor McDavid left several million dollars on the table in his contract to allow the team to build around him. "If you're Connor McDavid and you left several million per season on the table to be surrounded with help, you can't love how they're using that money," one analyst noted.

Special Teams Reversal: Ducks' Discipline Neutralizes Oilers' Power Play

The series was widely expected to be decided by special teams, with Edmonton boasting the NHL's top power play (30.6%) and Anaheim ranked 23rd (18.6%) on the man advantage and 27th on the penalty kill (76.4%). The Ducks, however, flipped the script. After accumulating 814 penalty minutes in the regular season (sixth-most in the league), they averaged just 6.5 penalty minutes per game in the first round, the lowest rate of any playoff team. Anaheim's penalty kill operated at 71.4% in the series, but they allowed only four power-play goals to the Oilers across six games. Edmonton's vaunted power play, which had been a decisive weapon in previous postseasons, was rendered largely ineffective. The Ducks' discipline and structure nullified what was supposed to be the Oilers' clearest advantage.

Injuries and Depth: Edmonton's Battered Lineup Could Not Keep Pace

The Oilers entered the series with significant injuries to key players. Leon Draisaitl missed 14 games heading into the playoffs with a lower-body injury. Connor McDavid appeared to sustain a right leg or ankle injury in Game 2. Jason Dickinson missed three games before the playoffs and sat out Games 2 and 3 of the series with a lower-body issue. Adam Henrique exited Game 1 with a lower-body injury and did not return. These absences forced Edmonton to rely on a thinner roster against a Ducks team that dressed four lines capable of generating offense. Anaheim's young forwards—Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, and Beckett Sennecke—all contributed, with Carlsson and Gauthier already established as stars and Sennecke showing promise. The Ducks' forward group looked bigger, faster, and deeper, overwhelming an Oilers team that had leaned on its top stars for years.

What Comes Next: Ducks Eye Deeper Run, Oilers Face Existential Questions

For Anaheim, the series win validates their preseason goal of making the playoffs and making noise. The Ducks will now await their second-round opponent, carrying the confidence of having eliminated the defending Western Conference champions. Quenneville, who previously guided the Chicago Blackhawks to multiple Stanley Cups, has instilled a system that allows his young, fast players to attack while maintaining enough structure to contain elite opponents. Edmonton, meanwhile, confronts a painful reckoning. The Oilers have now failed to advance past the first round despite employing arguably the two best players in the world. The goaltending situation is dire, the cap situation is constraining, and the supporting cast—especially on defense—could not handle Anaheim's speed. With McDavid and Draisaitl entering the prime of their careers, the window for contention is narrowing. The team's front office will face intense scrutiny over its roster construction and the decisions that led to this early exit.

A Changing of the Guard in the West

The Ducks' victory signals a potential shift in the Western Conference hierarchy. Anaheim's core—Carlsson, LaCombe, Gauthier, Sennecke—is on the rise, while Edmonton's stars may have missed their best chance. The series was not as close as the 4-2 margin suggests; the Ducks controlled play at five-on-five, dominated special teams, and received elite goaltending when needed. LaCombe's performance, in particular, announced him as a legitimate Norris Trophy contender and a Conn Smythe candidate if the Ducks continue their run. For the Oilers, the loss stings not only because of the early exit but because of how it happened. They were outclassed by a younger, faster, more disciplined team that exposed every structural flaw. The question now is whether Edmonton can retool around its superstars or whether the window has already closed.

The bottom line

• Jackson LaCombe dominated the series, outscoring and outplaying Connor McDavid in head-to-head matchups.
• Anaheim's special teams discipline neutralized Edmonton's top-ranked power play, a decisive factor in the series.
• Edmonton's goaltending tandem of Ingram and Jarry was among the worst in the playoffs, compounding cap issues.
• Injuries to Draisaitl, McDavid, Dickinson, and Henrique weakened the Oilers' depth, but the Ducks' speed and youth overwhelmed even a healthy Edmonton lineup.
• The Ducks' young core—Carlsson, LaCombe, Gauthier, Sennecke—has arrived as a legitimate contender in the Western Conference.
• Edmonton faces a difficult offseason with cap constraints, goaltending uncertainty, and a narrowing championship window for McDavid and Draisaitl.