Oilers Fall to Ducks, Ex-Canucks Podkolzin, Dickinson, and Lazar End Playoff Runs

The Edmonton Oilers will not be making a third consecutive appearance in the Stanley Cup Final, following a stunning upset in Game 6 of the first round. The Oilers fell to the Anaheim Ducks by a score of 5–2, marking a significant milestone for Anaheim as they advance to the second round for the first time since 2017. It also marks the Ducks’ return to the post-season since 2018.

With Edmonton’s exit from the playoffs, three former Vancouver Canucks have seen their post-season journeys come to an abrupt end. Vasily Podkolzin had a notable playoff performance, finishing the series with two goals and three assists across five games. The young forward is coming off a career-best season, where he tallied 19 goals and 18 assists during the regular campaign. Notably, in Game 6, he shared the ice with superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

Jason Dickinson, another former Canuck, also saw his playoff run cut short on Thursday night. Acquired by the Oilers at the 2026 Trade Deadline, Dickinson participated in four games during the series, missing two due to injury issues. This season has been challenging for him, as he missed the last three games of the regular season due to similar ailments. However, he made an impact in his first playoff game with the Oilers, scoring two goals.

Curtis Lazar, the final former Canuck whose playoff aspirations ended with the Oilers’ loss, made his post-season debut on April 22. Throughout the regular season, Lazar struggled with injuries, which affected his lineup presence. He skated in five of Edmonton’s six playoff matches but did not register any points.

With the Oilers’ defeat, the hopes of Canadian fans for a Stanley Cup now rest on the shoulders of the Montréal Canadiens, the last Canadian team remaining in the playoffs. Last week, the Ottawa Senators were eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes, while the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Winnipeg Jets, and Toronto Maple Leafs all missed the post-season altogether and will now focus on the upcoming NHL Draft Lottery.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.