Dickinson’s Playoff Return

Jason Dickinson returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2020 and scored twice in Edmonton’s 4-3 Game 1 win over Anaheim on Monday night. (nhl.com) NHL.com reported before puck drop that Dickinson’s status had been uncertain, but he dressed for Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round at Rogers Place and delivered two goals in his postseason return. (nhl.com) Kasperi Kapanen scored the winner with 1:54 left in the third period, and NBC Sports said Edmonton erased a 3-2 deficit after giving away an early 2-0 lead. Jason Dickinson accounted for both Oilers goals in that opening push. (nbcsports.com) The opener mattered beyond one night because Edmonton was the last first-round series to begin in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Bleacher Report said the Oilers and Ducks were the final two teams to join the postseason schedule on April 20. (bleacherreport.com) Dickinson’s return also gave Edmonton a healthy middle-six center at the start of a series instead of later in it. NHL.com said he had been coming back from injury and had not played a playoff game in six years. (nhl.com) The 30-year-old had previous playoff experience with the Dallas Stars, including their run to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final. ESPN’s player log lists his last postseason season as 2019-20 before this spring’s return with Edmonton. (espn.com) Edmonton added Dickinson after he spent most of 2025-26 in Chicago. Yahoo Sports’ transaction and stats page shows him appearing in 47 regular-season games for the Blackhawks and 17 more for the Oilers before the playoffs. (sports.yahoo.com) Game 1 did not settle the series, but it reset Dickinson’s playoff story in one night: available after late doubt, in the lineup on April 20, and on the scoresheet twice before Edmonton skated away with the opener. (nhl.com)