The Anaheim Ducks edged the Edmonton Oilers 5-4 on Thursday night at Rogers Place, withstanding a furious two-goal push in the final four minutes from the home side. The high-scoring defeat snapped Edmonton's five-game point streak despite a four-point outing from Connor McDavid. On the bench, the Oilers made NHL history by dressing Brett Epp, marking the league's first game with a rostered full-time emergency backup goaltender in uniform.
The Result
The Anaheim Ducks defeated the oilers 5-4 in regular-season NHL action on Thursday, November 5, 2026. The victory marked Anaheim's third consecutive win, lifting their record to 8-7-1. Edmonton dropped to 11-3-3 on the season, suffering their first regulation defeat in six games.
How the Match Unfolded
Anaheim opened the scoring at 9:26 of the first period on the power play, when Cutter Gauthier accepted a slot feed from Jackson LaCombe and beat Edmonton starter Matt Tomkins short side. Evan Bouchard pulled the Oilers level with 19 seconds remaining in the frame, firing a wrist shot from the slot off a setup from McDavid.
Edmonton grabbed a brief 2-1 lead early in the second period at 2:34 during a penalty kill. McDavid challenged Nikita Nesterenko one-on-one, fired a shot from the slot, and swatted his own rebound out of midair past Ducks goaltender Laurent Brossoit. Anaheim responded with four straight goals to turn the contest around. Pavel Mintyukov knotted the game at 2-2 at 3:37 on a shot redirected by Oilers forward Mathieu Joseph, before Mintyukov struck again at 6:15 by burying a rebound past Tomkins' blocker off a point-blank attempt from Judd Caulfield. Beckett Sennecke made it 4-2 with 38 seconds left in the period, elevating a Tristan Luneau cross-crease feed over Tomkins' left pad.
Sennecke widened the gap to 5-2 at 1:42 of the third period, tapping in a one-timer at the right post following passes from Gauthier and Leo Carlsson. Edmonton launched an aggressive late rally, starting with a power-play tally by Kasperi Kapanen with 3:36 remaining. With Tomkins pulled for an extra skater, Leon Draisaitl buried a cross-seam pass from McDavid with 44 seconds left to cut the margin to 5-4. Edmonton controlled the puck off the center-ice face-off, but Brossoit and the Ducks defense kept the net sealed through the final horn.
Standout Performances
Sennecke paced Anaheim's attack with two goals and an assist, continuing a high-scoring week after a four-point night against the Vancouver Canucks. Mintyukov delivered two goals and one assist from the blue line, while Gauthier tallied a goal and an assist to register his ninth goal over his last four appearances. Brossoit turned aside 23 saves in the win.
For Edmonton, McDavid recorded a goal and three assists, extending his season-opening scoring streak to 17 games while notching his 10th goal of the campaign. Bouchard registered a goal and an assist to stretch his personal goal streak to three games, while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins contributed two assists. In net, Tomkins stopped 16 saves in place of Tristan Jarry, who sat out due to illness.
Edmonton's crease situation produced a league milestone with Brett Epp on the bench. Under roster regulations effective for the 2026-27 season, every NHL team must carry a dedicated EBUG who travels with the club, wears No. 00, has 80 or fewer professional games, and has not played professionally over the prior three years. With Jarry sidelined, Epp became the first goaltender under the mandate to dress as the active backup.
What the Result Means
Edmonton remains near the top of the Western Conference table at 11-3-3, but the loss halted their five-game point streak (3-0-2). The Ducks moved above .500 at 8-7-1, gaining critical ground in the standings behind a three-game winning streak powered by 10 goals over two consecutive outings in Western Canada.
What Comes Next
Edmonton awaits the return of goaltender Tristan Jarry to full health as the team balances netminder workloads between Tomkins and emergency depth. Anaheim continues its road swing aiming to extend its three-game winning run behind its surging forward group.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Brett Epp dress for the Oilers?
Starting netminder Tristan Jarry missed Thursday's game due to illness, prompting Matt Tomkins to start and Epp to suit up as the designated backup goaltender.
What are the NHL rules for a full-time EBUG?
Under regulations in place for the 2026-27 campaign, teams roster an emergency backup who travels with the club, wears jersey No. 00, has never signed a standard NHL contract, holds 80 or fewer pro appearances, and has not played professional hockey over the preceding three seasons.
How long is Connor McDavid's point streak?
McDavid's four-point outing against Anaheim extended his season-opening scoring streak to 17 consecutive games.
