In Anaheim, California, Evan Bouchard scored twice and assisted once, making him only the second defenseman in NHL history to tally at least six goals in the first four games of a season. His performance helped the Edmonton Oilers rally with a dominant five-goal second period, ultimately defeating the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 on Wednesday night. Bouchard currently leads the league with six goals in four games, a feat last achieved by Harry Cameron, who scored eight goals in four games for the Toronto Arenas during the league’s inaugural season in 1917-18.
The Oilers also received four assists from Leon Draisaitl, while Connor McDavid added a goal and two assists. Kasperi Kapanen and Vasily Podkolzin scored as well, helping Edmonton overcome a slow start and secure their third consecutive win. Devon Levi made 28 saves in goal. On the Ducks’ side, Beckett Sennecke scored two power-play goals, and Leo Carlsson earned two assists, but the team suffered its first loss after winning two previous games. Lukas Dostal made 12 saves but was pulled after allowing three goals in the middle period, with Ville Husso stopping two shots in relief.
Bouchard ignited Edmonton’s second-period surge by scoring twice—first 11 seconds into the period on a wrist shot that slipped through traffic, and later on a one-timer from Draisaitl with just under six minutes remaining. He becomes only the fifth defenseman in league history to reach at least 10 points in the first four games of a season; the last to do so was Morgan Rielly in 2018-19. McDavid finished the outburst by netting his third goal and 12th point of the season during a 4-on-4 with just under a minute remaining. Additionally, Beckett Sennecke, who scored one power-play goal in his rookie year, netted twice on the man advantage in this game.
Meanwhile, the Ducks’ debutant Nikita Klepov, the No. 15 pick in the 2026 draft, became the youngest player in franchise history at 18 years, 102 days. The game highlighted the evolving talent pool and competitiveness early in the season.
Looking ahead, the Oilers will face San Jose on Saturday, while the Kings will play in Winnipeg on Friday night.
Fan Take: This game underscores how emerging stars like Bouchard and McDavid continue to shape the future of hockey, making early-season clashes must-watch events. As players like Klepov begin their careers, fans get a glimpse of the new talent that will energize the league for years to come, keeping hockey exciting and unpredictable.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
