Ducks 2, Oilers 1: Matt Beleskey scored a power-play goal and Frederik Andersen stopped 21 shots as host Anaheim claimed the opener of the home-and-home series to improve to 5-0-0 in December.

Ryan Kesler also tallied for the Ducks, who increased their league-leading total to 43 points. Andersen made seven saves in each period and also notched his second assist of the season on Kesler's goal.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins netted the lone tally for the Oilers, who suffered their 13th loss in 14 games (1-9-4). Viktor Fasth turned aside 32 shots against his former team.

Anaheim took advantage of its second power-play opportunity to grab the lead. Rickard Rikell moved the puck from the left faceoff circle to Kyle Palmieri, who made a slick pass from the left side of the crease to Beleskey for a shot from the slot 8:59 into the first period.

Kesler made it 2-0 midway through the second session, receiving a flip pass from defenseman Hampus Lindholm at the Edmonton blue line and beating Fasth to the stick side on a partial breakaway. Nugent-Hopkins pounced on a turnover by Ducks defenseman Josh Manson in the left circle and fired the puck past Andersen 53 seconds into the third to halve the deficit,

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Oilers dropped to 1-14-4 against the Western Conference this season, including a 1-10-1 mark versus Pacific Division rivals. ... Edmonton D Brandon Davidson made his NHL debut, posting a plus-1 rating and blocking a shot in 13:08 of ice time. ... The Oilers look to earn a split of the home-and-home set Friday in Edmonton. ... Beleskey's goal was his seventh in 11 games.