Leon Draisaitl, Oilers send series back to Anaheim for Game 6

Leon Draisaitl scored two goals for the Edmonton Oilers, who stayed alive in their Western Conference first-round playoff series with a 4-1 win against the visiting Anaheim Ducks in Game 5 on Tuesday night.

The Ducks hold a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series heading into Game 6 on Thursday in Anaheim.

Vasily Podkolzin and Zach Hyman also scored for the Oilers, who chased Anaheim goalie Lukas Dostal after tallying three goals in the first 10:13. Evan Bouchard had three assists, and Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each had two assists.

"They've been playing really well and I don't think we've been at our best," said McDavid, who has three straight multipoint games after going without a point in the first two games of the series. "I thought we got off to a good start, obviously. That helps. Playing with the lead is always nice."

Connor Ingram made 29 saves for the two-time defending Western Conference champions after backing up Tristan Jarry in the Oilers' 4-3 overtime loss at Anaheim in Game 4 on Sunday.

Alex Killorn scored for the Ducks, who remain one victory away from earning their first playoff series victory in nine years.

Dostal stopped just six of nine shots before he was replaced by Ville Husso, who finished with 10 saves.

"That was one that got away from us," Ducks coach Joel Quenneville said. "Not good enough. We will need a much better effort at home on Thursday."

Each team finished with one power-play goal.

"Special teams has been a bit of an Achilles heel this series, and I thought coming out even on the special team battle was big," McDavid said. "We just found a way tonight. We've got to get one win, one win at a time, and we've got to win a big one on Thursday."

The Oilers scored on the first shot of the game for the second straight game, and they also scored first for the fifth straight time in the series.

Bouchard pulled up at the right point before fitting a pass between two Anaheim defenders to Podkolzin in the left faceoff circle. Podkolzin beat Dostal up high on the short side with a wrist shot for a 1-0 lead at 2:22 of the first period.

It marked the NHL-high 12th time this season Dostal allowed a goal on the opening shot.

Dostal's clearing attempt from behind his net banked off the sideboards and was intercepted by Nugent-Hopkins, who fired the puck to the front of the crease, where Hyman was waiting to redirect it between Dostal's pads for a 2-0 lead at 8:33.

Bouchard took another blast from just inside the blue line and Draisaitl deflected it into the net to make it 3-0 at 10:13 and end the night for Dostal.

"It was pretty evident they had more desperation than us to start the game," Killorn said. "Fighting for their playoff lives and we just didn't have a good start. It's tough to go down 3-0 against a team like that and come back."

The Ducks scored their seventh power-play goal of the series when Killorn finished off a feed from Mason McTavish in the slot to cap a 3-on-2 rush and cut the margin to 3-1 at 8:26 of the second period.

That momentum didn't last long as Anaheim defenseman Jacob Trouba committed a tripping penalty 16 seconds later. Draisaitl scored on the ensuing power play with a one-timer from the right circle, extending the lead to 4-1 at 10:24.

The Oilers were outshooting the Ducks 12-3 through the first 18 1/2 minutes of the game before Anaheim finished with a 30-20 edge.

"We've got to have a response after tonight's game," Killorn said. "We can't be coming back from three goals (down)."

--Field Level Media

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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 10:11 PM.