Oilers defeat Ducks 4-1 in Game 5, force Game 6

Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl scored twice and Evan Bouchard added three assists as the team defeated the Anaheim Ducks 4-1 on Tuesday night in Game 5 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series, staving off elimination and forcing a Game 6.

The victory in Edmonton trimmed Anaheim's series lead to 3-2. Game 6 is set for Thursday at the Honda Center in Anaheim, the Ducks' first playoff appearance since 2018.

Vasily Podkolzin opened the scoring 2:22 into the first period with a snap shot past Anaheim goaltender Lukas Dostal on a feed from Bouchard, marking the Oilers' fifth straight game striking first. Zach Hyman made it 2-0 at 8:33 with a tip-in off a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins shot, and Draisaitl extended the lead to 3-0 at 9:47 by redirecting another Bouchard point shot. Dostal was pulled after allowing three goals on nine shots, with Ville Husso replacing him.

Anaheim responded in the second period when Alex Killorn scored on the power play at 8:26, one-timing a pass from Mason McTavish to cut the deficit to 3-1 and extend his points streak to four games. Draisaitl answered less than two minutes later on Edmonton's power play, ripping a one-timer off a Connor McDavid...