The Edmonton Oilers avoided elimination with a decisive 4-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Tuesday night, forcing a Game 6 in California.

Oilers Force Crucial Game 6

Leon Draisaitl led the charge with two goals, while Evan Bouchard contributed three assists, showcasing the Oilers’ offensive depth. Vasily Podkolzin and Zach Hyman also scored for Edmonton.

Key Performances and Records

Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each added two assists, further bolstering Edmonton's attack. The Oilers now hold an impressive record of 18-3 when scoring first in an elimination game.

Alex Killorn scored the lone goal for the Ducks, who still maintain a 3-2 series lead heading back to Anaheim.

Draisaitl Makes Oilers History

Draisaitl’s second goal of the night tied him with Wayne Gretzky for the most power-play goals in Oilers franchise history. Edmonton scored three goals in the first period, marking the fifth fastest three-goal start in franchise playoff history.

Oilers’ Resilience on Display

This victory was a stark contrast to their previous struggles, where they had allowed six separate leads to slip away in the first four games of the series. Evan Bouchard recorded his 88th career playoff point in his 80th game, tying him with Brian Leetch for third place all-time in points through 80 playoff games.

Connor McDavid surpassed Adam Oates for the second-most points in NHL history when trailing in a playoff series, trailing only Gretzky. The Oilers have now played the most playoff games of any NHL team since 2022, totaling 80 games.