Oilers Win 4-1 Over Ducks, Series Now 3-2

Edmonton Oilers staved off playoff elimination with a 4-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night in Edmonton, their most complete performance in the first-round series. The win pulled the best-of-seven series to 3-2 in Anaheim's favor, setting up Game 6 on Thursday at the Honda Center, where Edmonton has yet to earn a victory.

Facing a must-win after dropping three straight games following a series-opening triumph, the Oilers jumped to a three-goal lead in the first period, prompting Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal's early exit. Anaheim, which topped the league in comeback victories during the regular season, managed a power-play goal from Alex Killorn early in the second, but Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl answered before the period's midpoint to restore the three-goal margin. Draisaitl finished with two goals, leaving him one shy of Wayne Gretzky's franchise playoff record of 23.

Captain Connor McDavid contributed two assists while logging 24 minutes despite a second-game ankle injury that made his status a game-time decision and sidelined him from the morning skate. "We're still in a tough, tough spot, a really tough spot," McDavid said. "We've got to find a way to win in a...