The Anaheim Ducks defeated the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 in overtime on Tuesday, extending Edmonton's losing streak to four games. Ryan Poehling scored the winning goal for Anaheim, according to major media reports. The Ducks have now won three straight games, while the Oilers have lost four consecutive contests.
The game began with Edmonton taking an early lead as Kasperi Kapanen scored just 38 seconds into the first period. Kapanen now has three goals in the playoffs, according to major media reports. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins added another goal for the Oilers, while Cutter Gauthier and Mikael Granlund replied for the Ducks, sending the game to the second period tied 2-2. In the second period, Evan Bouchard put Edmonton ahead again, but Jeffrey Truchon-Viel equalized for Anaheim. The third period saw no further scoring, forcing overtime, where Ryan Poehling netted the winner for the Ducks, according to major media reports.
However, contradictory reports have emerged regarding the final score. While multiple sources report a 4-3 overtime victory for Anaheim, other reports, including from Ilta-Sanomat, describe a 7-4 win for the Ducks. In that version, Mikael Granlund scored a goal and added two assists, and Connor McDavid scored his first goal of the series. Additionally, Granlund had a goal disallowed due to a high stick, according to Ilta-Sanomat. The discrepancy raises questions about whether these reports refer to the same game or different contests. The series score is also unclear: Hockeysverige reports a 3-1 series lead for Anaheim, while Ilta-Sanomat implies a 2-1 lead.
Connor McDavid was involved in a notable incident late in the game, receiving a penalty that left him in the penalty box at the final whistle, according to major media reports. The nature of the penalty has not been specified. Before the game, McDavid faced a tough question from reporter Mark Spector of Sportsnet, who asked about the pressure of not having won an Olympic gold or Stanley Cup. According to Expressen Sport, Spector later joked that he might not receive a Christmas card from McDavid, but added that McDavid is a professional and understood the question.
The loss extends Edmonton's losing streak to four games, while Anaheim has won three straight. In the broader playoff race, the Florida Panthers are eight points from a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, the Toronto Maple Leafs are six points out, and the Los Angeles Kings and Washington Capitals are also below the playoff line, according to major media reports.
In a previous game, Cutter Gauthier scored the game-winning goal with 74 seconds left in regulation, according to major media reports. Gauthier also scored in Tuesday's game, continuing his strong performance. Kasperi Kapanen has three goals in the playoffs so far, according to major media reports.
Several details remain unknown. It is unclear which game Ilta-Sanomat reported on, as its description of a 7-4 win differs from other sources reporting a 4-3 overtime victory. The exact date and context of that game are not specified. The series score is also uncertain, with conflicting reports of 3-1 and 2-1. Additionally, the reason for Connor McDavid's penalty has not been disclosed, and why Ilta-Sanomat mentioned a disallowed goal for Granlund while other sources did not is unclear.