NHL picks today: Our prediction and pick for Game 6 of the first round between the Ducks and Oilers in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Ducks will host the Oilers on Thursday night in Game 6 of the first round of the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, with puck drop set for 10:00 p.m. ET. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Edmonton is a -130 road favorite on the Moneyline, and the game’s total is set at O/U 6.5 goals.
Below, I’ll provide a Ducks vs. Oilers Game 6 prediction and pick.
The Oilers have their backs against the wall in another elimination game, with the series shifting back to Anaheim for Game 6. Edmonton handled business in Game 5, playing a great defensive game and scoring three even strength first-period goals. Connor McDavid was a game-time decision leading up to it, and naturally, he looked the best he has all series in terms of his usual quickness and overall impact. He is still noticeably hobbled, though, so Edmonton’s depth will need to support him if it wants to come back from the dreaded 3-1 series deficit.
This series has featured 40 total goals across the first five games, and Game 5 was the only game to not go over the total of O/U 6.5 goals. It is admittedly hard to imagine the Oilers putting up back-to-back strong defensive games, and it especially doesn’t help that the game will be played in Anaheim. However, Edmonton has won the 5v5 battle thus far, averaging a postseason-high 3.61 5v5 goals per 60, and knows all about the ups and downs of playoff hockey.
The Ducks have been the better team this series and simply look much faster and more skilled than the Oilers. The team has kept up at even strength, too, ranking fifth in 5v5 goals per 60 and converting 7-of-14 power play opportunities thus far. Anaheim played very well for a team that rosters plenty of inexperienced and young players. They rank third in high-danger chances, second in xGoals per 60 and first in goals per 60.
Lukas Dostal was pulled early in Game 5 following Edmonton’s first-period scoring explosion, and he has been the worst goaltender this postseason in terms of goals saved above expected. Still, the goaltending in this series on both sides has been quite bad, and Anaheim’s offense is more than capable of exposing either Connor Ingram or Tristan Jarry.
This series should probably already be over, considering Anaheim has outshot Edmonton, 107 to 72, across the last three games. I can’t imagine a world where the Oilers’ defense completely shuts down this Ducks’ offensive attack in back-to-back games. Also, McDavid is injured, and it’s tough to win playoff games when your captain is hobbled.
Carlsson is averaging 5.2 shots per game and 7.0 shot attempts per game this postseason. He has cleared 4+ SOG in all five games and ranks first on Anaheim this postseason in shots on goal per 60 and shot attempts per 60.
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