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Oilers cruise past Ducks to clinch playoff berth

Andy Devlin / National Hockey League / Getty

The Edmonton Oilers punched their ticket to the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 6-0 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday.

Edmonton is the second team in the Western Conference to clinch a playoff berth, joining the Vegas Golden Knights. The Oilers are now up to 99 points for the season, two back of Vegas for first place in the Pacific Division with one extra game played.

Jay Woodcroft's crew has been the league's hottest team since March 1, posting a 13-2-1 record over that span. He guided the Oilers to the playoffs last year after taking over behind the bench for Dave Tippett midseason.

The Oilers' 2022 playoff run included series wins over the Los Angles Kings and Calgary Flames before a sweep at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final.

Edmonton has now reached the postseason in five of eight campaigns since drafting Connor McDavid first overall in 2015. The runaway MVP favorite played a significant part in helping his club get back to the dance this season with a career-high 62 goals and 146 points.

The Oilers' seeding in the Pacific's playoff picture is far from decided. Los Angeles is a single point back of Edmonton with a game in hand.

The two clubs will meet in a crucial contest Tuesday.

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