<p>Anaheim Ducks' Jackson LaCombe (2) and Edmonton Oilers' Zach Hyman (18) battle for the puck during second period NHL action in Edmonton on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson</p>

EDMONTON - Youth definitely led the way for the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday.

Anaheim’s promising future was on full display as Mason McTavish had a pair of goals and Jackson LaCombe and Cutter Gauthier each had three-assist performances as the Ducks dismantled the Edmonton Oilers 6-2.

Leo Carlsson, Sam Colangelo, Ryan Strome and Alex Killorn also scored for the Ducks (27-26-7) who have won two of their last three as they chase the Calgary Flames for the final wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference. They are currently six points behind the Flames.

“It was a huge win. We had a tough one against Chicago (a 6-3 loss on Saturday), so it was a good bounceback win for our group,” said McTavish, adding that playing a top team like the Oilers seems to bring out his team’s best. “I think we really know we have to compete, it’s probably no secret they have more talent than us, so we really have to bring our compete and we did that tonight.

“I think we have to play to our system and they kind of force us to do that or else it’ll get ugly. We have something really special going and hopefully we can keep it going in Vancouver tomorrow.”

McTavish, 22, has been finding his groove of late, with 13 points in his last 13 games.

“I think I’ve been getting a lot of chances recently, which is always a good sign," he said. “The biggest thing is making sure you’re skating and competing, and I’ve been getting some bounces recently.”

Ducks coach Greg Cronin has been pleased with McTavish, who now has 16 goals on the season, three short of his career high.

“He started out slowly, he wasn’t scoring and people see him as a scorer, he’s got a hell of a shot,” Cronin said. “On our streak he scored a bunch of goals in three or four games, but he’s playing the right way, it’s not about how many goals he’s scored, if you play the game the right way the goals will come and I think he’s been in the rhythm now for a while.”

LaCombe is also having a terrific season, picking up three assists to extend his point streak to six games. He has 11 goals and 33 points in 53 games this season.

“I thought we rebounded well, the last game we didn’t play the way we wanted to,” said the 24-year-old. “We all want to win, we’re obviously in the (playoff) hunt and I thought we did a great job.

“I think our whole team is clicking and we’re just more comfortable with each other and it makes a difference on the ice. We’re all on the same page and we all want to win.”

LaCombe, who was plus four for the entire season coming into the game, was plus-five in Tuesday’s tilt.

“That is a first,” he chuckled. “I just happened to be out there when guys are making plays and that’s how it goes.”

Other members of the Ducks youth brigade having big nights were Gauthier, 21, with three assists — and a goal and an assist apiece from Carlsson, 20, and Colangelo, 23.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 4, 2025.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2025