EDMONTON - The Edmonton Oilers took a lead 鈥 and finally held it.
Leon Draisaitl scored a pair of goals, and Evan Bouchard had three assists as the Oilers dug deep to stave off elimination, defeating the Anaheim Ducks 4-1 on Tuesday to force Game 6 in California.
The Oilers had previously allowed six separate leads to slip away in the first four games of the series, but led this game pillar to post after going up 3-0 midway through the first period.
鈥淚t was a good start for us, we鈥檝e had a few good starts in this series, and it鈥檚 a matter of holding the lead, and I thought we did a good job doing that,鈥 Bouchard said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what it is with us, I鈥檓 sure you鈥檝e heard this 1,000 times, when our backs are against the wall, we play good hockey, and we did that tonight.鈥
Vasily Podkolzin and Zach Hyman also scored for the Oilers. Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each had a pair of assists.
鈥淵ou have to be grateful just getting to the next day. All we did is survive one more day,鈥 said McDavid, who was listed as a game-time decision as he battles an injury, but said there was no doubt he鈥檇 play.听
The Oilers captain added his team still faces a massive challenge in the series.
鈥淚t will take a big effort, a really, really big effort,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e still in a tough, tough spot, a really tough spot. We鈥檝e got to find a way to win in a tough building. I thought we were right there in Game 4 and will have another great opportunity in Game 6.鈥
Connor Ingram made 29 stops to capture the win in the Edmonton net.
Alex Killorn replied for the Ducks, who take a 3-2 lead back home in their first playoff series since 2018.
鈥淭hey have a lot of guys who went to the Cup final the last two years, so that experience is invaluable,鈥 Killorn said. 鈥淚n a lot of series, they鈥檝e been down and never gave up. But if you told us we can go home for Game 6 and win the series, I think that鈥檚 a great position that we鈥檙e in. So, I look at it that way.鈥
Ville Husso recorded 10 saves for Anaheim after coming in to relieve Lukas Dostal, who allowed three goals on nine shots.
For the fifth straight game, the Oilers struck first. Podkolzin beat Dostal high on the game鈥檚 first shot, 2:22 in, for his second of the post-season.
Edmonton took a 2-0 lead 8:33 into the opening period as a point shot was deflected twice, the second time through Dostal鈥檚 legs by Hyman, who recorded his second.
The Oilers then took a three-goal lead just 1:14 later as Draisaitl tipped an Evan Bouchard point shot in for his second of the playoffs. That spelled an early end of the night for Dostal. It was the fifth fastest three goals to start a playoff game in Edmonton franchise history.
Anaheim got on the board with their lethal power play 8:26 into the second frame as Mason McTavish dropped it back to Killorn, who extended his points streak to four games with his third of the playoffs.
Edmonton responded with a power play goal of its own a couple of minutes later on a wicked one-timer by Draisaitl for his second of the game. Draisaitl tied Wayne Gretzky for the most post-season power play goals in franchise history at 23.
There was no scoring in the third.
The Ducks outshot Edmonton 24-8 in the final 40 minutes.
NOTES: Playing in his 80th career playoff game, Bouchard collected his 88th point, moving into a tie for third place all-time for players through 80 games with Brian Leetch, behind only Bobby Orr (92) and Paul Coffey (92)鈥 McDavid (63 points) passed Adam Oates for the second-most points in NHL history when trailing in a playoff series. Only Gretzky (80) has more.
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Game 6 takes place on Thursday in Anaheim.
This report by 国产诱惑福利 was first published April 28, 2026.
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