Edmonton Oilers vs Anaheim Ducks 29 April 2026 Prediction

One of the most entertaining first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series returns to Canada for Game 5. After losing the opener, Anaheim took control and has now won three straight. The question is whether Edmonton can stay alive, or whether the series ends in this game.

Changing Goalies Did Not Fix Edmonton’s Problems

After allowing 13 goals in two losses, Edmonton turned away from Connor Ingram. Tristan Jarry got the start in the last game, but the change did not solve anything. He stopped just 89.5% of the shots he faced, and the Oilers lost 4-3 in overtime on the road.

What makes the result even more frustrating for Edmonton is that the team led several times during the game and was up 2-0 by the seventh minute of the first period. Still, the Oilers have now allowed 20 goals in four games in this series, and with defending like that, it is hard to expect a comeback. Even head manager Kris Knoblauch sounded resigned after the loss:

"They are obviously very excited to be back in the playoffs after a long absence. They are playing freely, without much pressure. And with this roster, it is clear this team will be back in the postseason on a regular basis."

Predicted Lineup

Edmonton: Ingram (Jarry) – Ekholm, Bouchard – Savoie, McDavid, Hyman

Full roster: defensemen – Nurse, Murphy, Walman, Emberson; forwards – Podkolzin, Draisaitl, Kapanen, Nugent-Hopkins, Dickinson, Roslovic, Frederic, Samanski, Lazar

Out: Jones, Janmark (both injured), Dach, Henrique (both questionable)

Manager: Kris Knoblauch

Anaheim Can Go Far With This Offense

Joel Quenneville’s team continues to surprise. Anaheim has won three straight against an Edmonton team that was viewed as the favorite in this matchup. The Ducks have looked outstanding offensively, scoring 17 goals over the last three games. A team playing at that level is difficult to stop, even for Connor McDavid and company.

Anaheim is converting 14.5% of its shots on goal, the best rate in the playoffs by a comfortable margin. Defenseman Jackson LaCombe has also been excellent. He already has eight points in the series, with one goal and seven assists, and currently leads the Stanley Cup Playoffs in scoring.

Anaheim: Dostal (Husso) – LaCombe, Trouba – Gauthier, Carlsson, Terry

Full roster: defensemen – Mintyukov, Carlson, Hinds, Helleson; forwards – Killorn, Granlund, Sennecke, McTavish, Peeling, Kreider, Vielle, Wash, Moore

Out: Mrazek (injury), Johnston, Gudas, Harkins (all questionable)

Manager: Joel Quenneville

The Ducks Have Shown Real Composure

All four games in this series have started with Edmonton goals. In the last one, Anaheim even fell behind by two early. But in each of the last three games, the Ducks came back to win. That gives Quenneville’s team not only the edge in the series, but also a clear psychological advantage.

That said, three of the last four head-to-head games played in Canada have gone Edmonton’s way.

What You Need to Know

Anaheim ranks third in the playoffs in expected goals at 3.46 per game.

Edmonton is allowing 1.8 goals per game in the third period, with only Boston posting a worse number in the playoffs.

The Ducks are averaging 32.8 shots per game, the second-best mark in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Edmonton Oilers vs Anaheim Ducks Prediction: Edmonton to Win at 1.83

Main pick: Despite losing the last three games, Edmonton still looks like the more likely winner in this spot. The Oilers’ star-studded offense should still have another strong performance left in it, and home ice should help as well. It is also worth noting that Anaheim has lost three of its last four road games against Edmonton. Based on that, Edmonton to win at 1.83 is the preferred pick. For those looking for a higher-risk option, the projected correct score is 4-3.

Total pick: This has been a high-scoring series overall, but in half of the games the teams still failed to get past six total goals. The stakes are also extremely high here, especially for Edmonton, since this could be its last game of the season. That should push the Oilers toward a more careful defensive approach, so under 7.5 at 1.68 looks reasonable.

Power-play goals pick: Both teams rank in the top three in the playoffs in power-play conversion. Anaheim leads the field, scoring on every other opponent penalty. Based on that, over 1.5 total power-play goals stands out as a logical option.