hockey tonight puts the Anaheim Ducks in Edmonton for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round, with both teams opening their Stanley Cup Playoffs path on home ice for the Oilers. The game comes with Leon Draisaitl listed as a game-time decision, while Edmonton looks to start its push toward a third consecutive Stanley Cup Final.
Edmonton opens at home with key lineup uncertainty
The Oilers enter this series with playoff experience and a clear edge in familiarity with this stage, while Anaheim arrives back in the postseason for the first time since 2018. Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch said there were “no updates” on Draisaitl and stressed that the team would keep its lineup plans quiet until tonight’s decision point.
Draisaitl has not played since a lower-body injury in a 3-1 win against the Nashville Predators on March 15 and missed the final 14 games of the regular season. Jason Dickinson is also a game-time decision after blocking a shot in a 5-2 win at the San Jose Sharks on April 8 and missing the last three games.
Knoblauch said Draisaitl has been practicing with the team since April 13, and defenseman Mattias Ekholm said getting him back would be “a great boost for everybody. ” Draisaitl finished ninth in scoring this season with 97 points in 65 games, including 35 goals and 62 assists.
Hockey Tonight: Ducks bring speed, skill and comeback ability
Anaheim captain Radko Gudas said the playoffs are “very exciting” and described the room as eager for the hard work ahead. The Ducks’ season was built around reaching the playoffs, and they arrive with a team identity that includes 26 comeback wins, tied for first in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens.
Coach Joel Quenneville said the Ducks found ways to win from behind when they had to, but he also made clear he would prefer more games with the lead. That backdrop makes the opener especially important, because Anaheim’s ability to keep pace early may shape the tone of the series.
Pressure builds early in the first two games
The latest playoff discussion around this matchup centers on one blunt idea: if Anaheim drops both games in Edmonton, the series could quickly tilt against it. Tyler Yaremchuk said the Ducks must steal one of the first two games in Edmonton if they want a shot, and Carter Hutton called that view “totally fair. ”
Hutton pointed to Edmonton’s experience, speed and structure, and said the Oilers are in a good place as a group. He also said the Ducks will have to deal with a heavy challenge from a team that has shown it can travel well in the playoffs.
For Anaheim, the urgency is obvious. For Edmonton, hockey tonight is about setting the tone at home and seeing whether Draisaitl is available for the start of the series.
What to watch next in hockey tonight
The immediate focus is on the final lineup call and how each side handles the opening minutes. If Draisaitl plays, Edmonton’s matchup options change quickly; if he does not, the Oilers will lean on the group that carried them through the end of the regular season.
Either way, hockey tonight begins a series that brings together a seasoned contender and a first-time postseason group looking to prove it belongs. The first answer comes in Edmonton, and hockey tonight may tell us whether Anaheim can keep the pressure manageable or whether the Oilers seize control early.
