The Edmonton Oilers' Mattias Ekholm (14) celebrates a goal against the Anaheim Ducks during second period NHL action at Rogers Place, in Edmonton Monday Jan. 26, 2026.
The Edmonton Oilers finally pulled away from the Anaheim Ducks after a tense, uneven night at Rogers Place.
What decided the game was not the star forwards, but a defence group that delivered something the NHL had never seen before.
Edmonton’s blue line exploded offensively and powered a 7-4 victory that rewrote league history.
Defence Takes Over the Spotlight
Just two days after Evan Bouchard’s six-point performance against Washington, the Edmonton Oilers defence struck again.
This time, it was louder, faster, and historic.
Four goals by defencemen in just 3:49 turned a tight contest into an unforgettable night.
Spencer Stastney opened the surge at 4:36 of the second period.
Mattias Ekholm followed less than two minutes later.
Darnell Nurse added another moments after.
Ekholm struck again at 8:25 to cap the run.
It became the fastest four goals by defencemen in NHL history.
Fans inside Rogers Place watched a record fall in real time.
Records Fall at Rogers Place
The feat marked only the sixth time a team scored four defence goals in one period.
It was also the first such instance since 2000.
No team, however, had ever done it so quickly.
Leon Draisaitl, who recorded four assists, praised the blue line’s impact.
He highlighted their puck movement, rush support, and offensive confidence.
The performance overshadowed his own productive night.
Ekholm Completes Rare Hat Trick
The night became even more special in the final minutes.
With Anaheim’s net empty, Mattias Ekholm sealed his hat trick.
That goal placed Edmonton alone in the history books.
For the first time ever, a team recorded defencemen hat tricks in consecutive games.
Bouchard had achieved the feat two nights earlier.
Ekholm followed, despite being known more for defence than scoring.
Ekholm entered the game with only three goals all season.
He admitted the night felt unexpected and surreal.
Sometimes, he said, hockey rewards patience in strange ways.
Oilers Survive Despite Defensive Lapses
Despite the historic stretch, the Oilers were far from perfect.
Anaheim pushed hard, even while tired and shorthanded.
The Ducks were playing their third game in four nights.
Anaheim controlled the opening minutes and struck first.
They outshot Edmonton heavily early and took a 1-0 lead.
They regained momentum again early in the second period.
Edmonton’s four-goal burst built a 5-2 cushion.
Still, defensive issues resurfaced in the third period.
The Ducks closed the gap to 5-4 and dominated shot totals late.
Goaltender Tristan Jarry played a crucial role in holding the lead.
Connor McDavid added an empty-net goal to restore calm.
Ekholm followed with his third to finish the scoring.
Breaks and Bounces Aid Edmonton
The Oilers benefited from several timely breaks.
Their first goal came on a lengthy power play.
Another resulted from a deflected centring pass.
A defensive slip by Anaheim sent Nurse in alone.
Backup goaltender Ville Husso struggled to contain pressure.
Those moments helped Edmonton create separation.
Lineup Changes and a New Debut
The game also featured roster changes for Edmonton.
Kasperi Kapanen returned to the lineup.
Prospect Josh Samanski made his NHL debut.
Samanski replaced Ike Howard, who was sent to Bakersfield.
The young centre earned the opportunity with strong AHL numbers.
He recently received a call-up to Germany’s Olympic team.
Head coach Kris Knoblauch praised Samanski’s camp performance.
He believes the rookie adds speed and grit.
That energy could be valuable for the playoff stretch.
A Win, With Lessons Attached
The Edmonton Oilers defence delivered a night for the history books.
Yet the game also exposed areas needing attention.
Scoring rescued them, but structure remains a priority.
Edmonton moves forward with confidence and caution.
They proved they can win with offence from anywhere.
Now, consistency will decide how far this team goes.
