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The Day After +5.0: Oilers keep series alive with commanding home win over Ducks

Photo credit: © Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
The Oilers kept their season alive Tuesday night with a 4-1 win over the Ducks at Rogers Place, forcing a Game 6 with their most complete performance of the series.
Facing elimination, Edmonton didn’t leave much to chance early. Vasily Podkolzin opened the scoring just over two minutes into the game, and Zach Hyman followed a few minutes later to make it 2-0. The Oilers stayed on the front foot from there, with Leon Draisaitl extending the lead to 3-0 midway through the first period. It was the type of start they had been searching for throughout the series, only this time it held.
After multiple games in which early leads slipped away or momentum shifted quickly, the Oilers managed the game with structure and detail. They limited Anaheim’s ability to sustain pressure and didn’t allow the Ducks to dictate the pace as they had in previous outings.
Draisaitl added his second of the night on the power play early in the second period, pushing the lead to 4-0 and giving Edmonton a cushion it hadn’t had at any point in the series. From there, the focus shifted from chasing the game to protecting it, something that had cost them through the first five games.
Anaheim’s lone response came on the power play later in the second, but it didn’t change the overall feel of the game. The Oilers stayed composed, kept their structure intact, and avoided the breakdowns that had worked against them earlier in the series.
After sitting out Game 4 in favour of Tristan Jarry, Connor Ingram turned aside 24 of 25 shots, providing a steady presence in net, while the group in front of him did a better job of managing pucks and limiting second chances. The details were cleaner, and the result followed.
The Oilers have talked throughout the series about belief and experience, and this was the first time it showed up across a full 60 minutes. They played within the margins that playoff hockey demands, stayed out of trouble for long stretches, and capitalized on their opportunities early.
Now, the challenge shifts again.
The Oilers have bought themselves another game, but the situation hasn’t changed. They’ll need to carry this level into Anaheim and find a way to repeat it in a much different environment against a team that still holds the edge in the series.
What they said…
Oilers captain Connor McDavid on the challenge ahead in Game 6…
“It’ll take a big effort. A really big effort. We’re still in a tough spot and we’ve got to find a way to win in a tough building. I thought we were right there in Game 4 and we’ll have another opportunity in Game 6.”“You have to be grateful just to get to the next day. All we did is survive one more day. The pressure is still on us, but it’s a big game for them too. Close-out games are tough in their building, and I’m sure they won’t want to come back to Edmonton.”“There’s pressure on them, but we’ve got to find a way to survive another day.”
Edmonton defenceman Evan Bouchard on building off a strong start and playing with urgency…
“It was a good start for us. We’ve had a few good starts in this series, and it’s about holding the lead. I thought we did a good job of that.”“You’ve probably heard it a lot, but when our backs are against the wall, we play good hockey. I thought we did that tonight.”
Oilers forward Vasily Podkolzin on the team’s confidence and response…
“I like how we responded. We’re a great team. We’ve got veterans here who know how to play deep into the playoffs, and there’s a lot of confidence in our room. Nothing’s done yet.”“I like our leadership group. They sent a great message after Game 4 that nothing’s done yet. Only our group can come back from this. I like our mood right now, but tomorrow is a new day. We’ll fly to Anaheim and be ready for Game 6.”
Edmonton goaltender Connor Ingram on staying prepared and stepping into Game 5…
“When a game is that important, it’s not that hard to stay locked in. I have little things I do to make sure I’m engaged and aware of what’s going on at all times. It’s just experience and habits I’ve picked up along the way.”“I thought Tristan Jarry was great the game before. The communication was really good. They let me know what the plan was, so I had no issues stepping in.”“I was frustrated after Game 3 with myself, so getting a bit of a mental and physical reset helped. Jarry gave us a great chance, so it worked out well.”
Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville on the approach heading back home for Game 6…
“It’s not going to be easy. Nobody is going to give us anything. We’ve got to be ready to push and be excited about going home and playing in front of our crowd.”
Anaheim forward Troy Terry on trying to finish off a contender like the Oilers…
“They’ve been to two Stanley Cup Finals for a reason. They’re a good team. We believe in this room, but we knew they were going to push.”“We made some mental mistakes, but I didn’t think we weren’t ready. We got down early, and I thought we pressed the rest of the game. That’s playoff hockey.”
Ducks forward Alex Killorn on Edmonton’s experience and the opportunity in Game 6…
“They have a ton of experience. A lot of those guys have been to the Stanley Cup Final the last two years, and that matters. They’ve been down in series before and never quit.”“If you told us we’d be going home for Game 6 with a chance to win the series, we’d take that. It’s a great position for us.”
Up next…
The Ducks will host the Oilers for Game 6 on Thursday.
An Edmonton win would send the series back to Rogers Place for Game 7 on Saturday, while an Anaheim win would advance the Ducks to the second round.
Breaking News
- The Day After +5.0: Oilers keep series alive with commanding home win over Ducks
- Oilers’ start powers Game 5 win, the big dogs came to play, and the improbable comeback moves ahead
- ‘This hit on Draisaitl needs to be answered’: Oilers fans react to Kreider’s dangerous hit
- Draisaitl’s two goals help Oilers force Game 6 with 4-1 win over Ducks: Recap, Reaction and Highlights
- ‘It wasn’t a controversy’: Commissioner Gary Bettman defends ruling of Ducks’ overtime goal
