Kasperi Kapanen scored his second goal of the game with 1:54 left in the third period to give the Edmonton Oilers a 4-3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in the opener of their first-round playoff series

Edmonton Oilers' Kasperi Kapanen (42) celebrates the game-winning goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the third period of an NHL playoff game in Edmonton on Monday, April 20, 2026. (Codie McLachlan/The Canadian Press via AP)

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Kasperi Kapanen scored his second goal of the game with 1:54 left in the third period to give the Edmonton Oilers a 4-3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in the opener of their first-round playoff series Monday night.

Jason Dickinson also scored twice for the Oilers, who trailed 3-2 entering the third.

Oilers star Leon Draisaitl returned to the ice after missing the final 14 regular-season games with an injury. Draisaitl and Jake Walman each had two assists for Edmonton.

The Oilers are seeking their third consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Final, having lost each of the last two seasons to the Florida Panthers, who missed out on postseason play this year.

Troy Terry had two goals and an assist and Leo Carlsson also scored for the Ducks, who are in the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

Connor Ingram made 25 saves, including a doozy in the waning seconds, to earn the win.

Lukas Dostal stopped 30 shots for Anaheim.

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AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Edmonton Oilers' Jason Dickinson (16) celebrates a goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of an NHL playoff game in Edmonton on Monday, April 20, 2026. (Codie McLachlan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Anaheim Ducks' Troy Terry (19) battles against Edmonton Oilers' goaltender Connor Ingram (39) during the third period of an NHL playoff game in Edmonton on Monday, April 20, 2026. (Codie McLachlan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Anaheim Ducks' Beckett Sennecke (45) shoots against Edmonton Oilers' goaltender Connor Ingram (39) during the first period of Game 1 in a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Edmonton, Alberta, Monday, April 20, 2026. (Codie McLachlan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Edmonton Oilers' Jason Dickinson (16) celebrates after a goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of Game 1 in a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Edmonton, Alberta, Monday, April 20, 2026. (Codie McLachlan/The Canadian Press via AP)