Ryan Nugent-Hopkins stepped up to the microphones on Friday and shared how the Edmonton Oilers plan to start their playoff matchup against Anaheim on Monday night.
“We understand they want to play quickly and keep moving. That’s not how we like to play, we prefer to focus on defense and make it tough for them. ”
This statement, shared by the Oilers on X, came straight from the locker room on Friday afternoon with Game 1 just around the corner.
Nugent-Hopkins appeared calm in the video, wearing a hat and speaking into several microphones, with his area behind him still filled with equipment, and his voice was steady.
The background of his statement is important. Anaheim wrapped up the regular season with 43 wins and 92 points, just one point behind Edmonton. These two teams are familiar with each other.
Oilers begin the playoffs without Leon Draisaitl; Nugent-Hopkins steps up.
Leon Draisaitl is on injured reserve due to a lower-body injury and will not play again this season. This is significant because it means the Oilers lose 97 points from their lineup before the playoffs even begin.
Edmonton enters Game 1 without its second-line center and one of the most dangerous players during power plays in the league, who scored 16 power play goals this season.
“We know they wanna play a fast game, play on the run & go. That’s not how we wanna play, we want to play defensively & make things really difficult.”
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins shares his perspective on what the #Oilers focus will be against the Ducks.@Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/yG03pxc7yM
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) April 17, 2026
This puts a lot of pressure on Nugent-Hopkins. He had 56 points in 72 games, which includes 11 goals during power plays and 18 assists on power plays. Now he has to lead the second unit.
His last ten games were not very productive, with only 4 points. However, playoffs can often change that for better or worse.
On the other hand, Connor McDavid finished the regular season strongly, getting 20 points in his last ten games, including 8 goals. During that time, Edmonton had a record of 6-2-2, finishing off with a big win against Vancouver, 6-1 on Thursday.
Anaheim’s recent games showed a different picture. The Ducks had a record of 2 wins, 6 losses, and 2 ties as they approached the playoffs, and that’s the type of performance that keeps coaches awake at night reviewing game footage. Joel Quenneville has a tough job ahead of him.
However, the Ducks still have strong players. Cutter Gauthier scored 41 goals this season, with 7 of those being the final goals that won games, and he added 5 goals in just his last 5 games. At 22 years old and entering his first playoff series, he’s a player that could be very intimidating for the opposing team.
Edmonton came out on top in their regular-season game, winning 2-1. They had a 7-4 victory at home in January, lost on the road in Anaheim in February, and won again at home with a score of 4-2 in late March. The Ducks only managed to win when they played at their home rink.
Evan Bouchard is another player that Knoblauch will rely on. He scored 95 points in 82 regular-season games while playing defense, including 7 points in his last 5 games. He controls the power play from the back, and Anaheim will need to have a strategy to deal with him during the entire series.
Lukas Dostal will be in goal for the Ducks this season with a save percentage of . 888. Connor Ingram had a . 898 save percentage in 32 games for Edmonton. Both goalies have their own uncertainties going into the playoffs, which is why Nugent-Hopkins is discussing the importance of a strong defense before Game 1 starts.
The Oilers are designed to win by scoring more goals than their opponents. Without Draisaitl, they might actually have to stick to the game plan that their center has already talked about.
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