Jackson LaCombe Explodes for 9 Points, Lifts Ducks into Second Round in Historic Playoff Debut

Anaheim, CA—Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe is turning postseason buzz into a full-blown breakout, anchoring the blue line as the Ducks surge into the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 25-year-old rookie-turned-cornerstone logged 26:14 of ice time per night in the opening series and finished with two goals, six assists and a plus-7 rating, the best differential among all defensemen in the Western Conference so far. LaCombe’s meteoric rise is hardly a surprise inside the Ducks’ room. After signing an eight-year extension last season, the Eden Prairie, Minnesota native dedicated the summer to adding muscle and refining his first-pass accuracy—work that has translated into a 50-point regular season, the first time a Ducks blueliner has hit that mark in 15 years. Head coach Greg Cronin called him “our engine,” pointing to LaCombe’s ability to quarterback the top power-play unit while shouldering heavy penalty-kill minutes. Playoff pedigree is nothing new for the former University of Minnesota star. LaCombe won gold with Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina earlier this year, logging the second-highest average ice time on the roster and finishing tied for the tournament lead in defensive scoring. That international confidence has bled into his NHL game; in Game 5 against Vancouver, he walked the blue line to freeze two Canucks forwards before firing a seeing-eye wrister through traffic for the overtime series-clincher—already one of the most replayed highlights of these playoffs. Analysts now slot LaCombe onto early Conn Smythe watch lists, citing his 56.3 percent expected-goals share and league-best 92 percent controlled exit rate among defensemen with 100+ postseason minutes. “He’s playing like a five-year veteran,” NBC’s Eddie Olczyk noted during the national broadcast. Next up: a best-of-seven clash with the Vegas Golden Knights, whose forecheck finished third in the league this season. If LaCombe continues dictating pace with his effortless edge work and tape-to-tape stretch passes, Anaheim’s Cinderella run could stretch even deeper into May—and a national audience is starting to take notice. Key search phrases: Jackson LaCombe playoffs 2026, Jackson LaCombe highlights, Ducks vs Golden Knights, Anaheim Ducks defenseman stats, Jackson LaCombe contract, Team USA Olympic defenseman.