Kasperi Kapanen Scores with 1:54 Left, Oilers Survive Worst Second Period Collapse to Edge Ducks 4-3 in Game 1

The Edmonton Oilers looked like they had things completely under control heading into the second period. Then everything fell apart for 20 minutes, and suddenly they were staring down a 3-2 deficit against the Anaheim Ducks. But this is the Stanley Cup Playoffs, baby. Kasperi Kapanen wasn't about to let Game 1 slip away. With 1:54 left in the third period, Kapanen buried a one-timer from the slot off a feed from behind the net by Vasily Podkolzin, and the Oilers escaped with a 4-3 win in the first game of their Western Conference first-round series on Monday at Rogers Place.

Dominating the First, Then Nearly Blowing It All

The Oilers came out absolutely firing. Jason Dickinson got Edmonton rolling at 17:21 of the first when he slipped behind defenseman Tyson Hinds and beat Lukas Dostal cleanly for a 1-0 lead. Before the period was even done, Kapanen made it 2-0 after tucking home a rebound at 18:21. Edmonton was outshoting Anaheim 14-4 through the first 20 minutes, and it looked like this was going to be a blowout.

Then the second period happened. The Ducks scored 19 seconds into the period when Troy Terry buried a rebound from the right circle. Thirty seconds later, Anaheim tied it when Leo Carlsson punched in another rebound at 4:38. By 14:29 of the second, the Ducks had flipped the script entirely. Terry fired home a wrist shot from above the left circle with a screen from Chris Kreider, and suddenly the Oilers were down 3-2. They had given up three goals in one period and completely surrendered their 2-0 cushion.

Dickinson Answers, Kapanen Seals the Deal

The Oilers weren't done fighting back. At 11:30 of the third, Jason Dickinson scored his second goal of the game when he capitalized on a rebound after Radko Gudas lost his footing on the rush, tying the game at 3-3. That set the stage for Kapanen's dramatic finish 8:30 later.

Connor Ingram stopped 24 shots for the Oilers, while Dostal made 30 saves in his first playoff appearance for the Ducks in eight years. Podkolzin, Jake Walman and Leon Draisaitl each finished with two assists. This was Draisaitl's first game back after missing the final 14 games of the regular season with a lower-body injury.

Game 2 tips off Wednesday night in Edmonton. The Ducks got a taste of how quickly things can change in the playoffs, but they're not done fighting yet.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.