Draisaitl Back and Dangerous: Oilers Edge Ducks in Playoff Opener as Edmonton's Cup Window Opens Again

Leon Draisaitl is back, and the Edmonton Oilers wasted no time reminding everyone why that matters. After missing the final 14 regular-season games with a lower-body injury, Draisaitl returned to drop two assists in a 4-3 first-round victory over the Anaheim Ducks Monday night in Alberta. The Oilers trailed 3-2 heading into the third period before Kasperi Kapanen buried the game-winner with 1:54 left on the clock.

Draisaitl Is Shaking Off the Rust

Here's the thing about bringing back your star forward in the playoffs: you never know if he's going to be himself right away. Draisaitl knows it too. "I felt OK. Certainly going to take a couple games to really be myself, and really trust myself again," he said after the win. "But for a start, I thought it was OK."

That's the kind of honest assessment that matters in a first-round series. Draisaitl wasn't perfect, but paired with two goals from Jason Dickinson and Kapanen's clutch late-game heroics, the Oilers had just enough to survive a Ducks team playing with nothing to lose. Troy Terry countered with two goals and an assist for Anaheim, and Leo Carlsson also scored, but it wasn't enough in the end.

Connor Ingram Steals the Show in His First Playoff Start

While Draisaitl's return grabbed the headlines, rookie goalie Connor Ingram quietly won Game 1 with 25 saves in his first-ever postseason start for Edmonton. He made a critical stop in the final seconds that could've cost the Oilers everything. "It's loud in there. After the anthem, one thing I always do is smile and take it all in," Ingram said. "That was one today where I was like, 'This is cool.'" That's poise under pressure, and the Oilers are going to need more of it.

Lukas Dostal stood on his head for the Ducks with 30 saves, but it wasn't enough. Anaheim's first playoff appearance since 2018 is off to a tough start, and Edmonton's quest for their third straight trip to the Cup Final stays alive.

Game 2 tips off Wednesday night at Rogers Place. Draisaitl and the Oilers know they left a lot on the ice, especially on the power play, which went 0-for-2. "We'll chip away at it, and be better next game," Draisaitl promised. That's the message when you barely escape Game 1.

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