Ekholm Hat Trick Shocks Ducks as Oilers Snap Anaheim’s Hot Streak
A packed Rogers Place watched history unfold as a quiet night on the blue line turned into a statement game that rippled across the NHL. Mattias Ekholm, a veteran defenseman better known for stability than scoring, delivered his first career hat trick and powered the Edmonton Oilers to a 7–4 win over the Anaheim Ducks, ending Anaheim’s seven-game winning streak in dramatic fashion.
This game mattered long before the final horn. Anaheim came in red hot, confident and dangerous, riding momentum from a long stretch of tight wins. Edmonton, meanwhile, needed a response after uneven results and they got it from an unlikely source. Ekholm, playing one of the most complete games of his long career, flipped the script on expectations and changed the night entirely.
The Ducks struck first and kept pushing, leaning heavily on special teams and the sharp finishing of Mikael Granlund, who punished Edmonton with three power-play goals of his own. For long stretches, Anaheim looked like the team in control. But then the Oilers’ defense took over and the game swung hard and fast.
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In a span of just under four minutes in the second period, Edmonton exploded with four goals from the blue line. It was sudden, it was ruthless and it stunned Anaheim. Ekholm led the charge, jumping into the rush with perfect timing, finishing plays with confidence and showing why experience still matters in big moments. Edmonton became the first team in NHL history to record hat tricks by defensemen in back-to-back games, a rare feat that underscored just how unusual this stretch has been.
The Oilers’ stars still made their presence felt. Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman chipped in offensively, Leon Draisaitl quietly piled up assists and the team found balance across all four lines. But the story stayed with Ekholm, who broke a long scoring drought in the loudest way possible and capped his night with an empty-net goal to seal it.
For Anaheim, the loss stings but does not erase progress. The Ducks showed resilience, fought back late and proved they can challenge elite teams even on the road and on back-to-back nights. Still, this was a reminder of how quickly games can turn in hostile buildings.
For Edmonton, this win sends a message. Depth matters. Defense can drive offense. And when momentum shifts, this team can still seize it with authority.
Stay with us as the NHL season continues to tighten, the playoff picture sharpens and nights like this remind us how fast everything can change.
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