Draisaitl ignites desperate Oilers in clutch 4-1 win over Ducks

Vasily Podkolzin and Zach Hyman also scored for the Oilers. Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each had a pair of assists.

“You have to be grateful just getting to the next day. All we did is survive one more day,” said McDavid, who was listed as a game-time decision as he battles an injury, but said there was no doubt he’d play.

The Oilers captain added his team still faces a massive challenge in the series.

“It will take a big effort, a really, really big effort,” he said. “We’re still in a tough, tough spot, a really tough spot. We’ve 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.”

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.

“They have a lot of guys who went to the Cup final the last two years, so that experience is invaluable,” Killorn said. “In a lot of series, they’ve 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’s a great position that we’re in. So, I look at it that way.”

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’s 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’s 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)… 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.

UP NEXT:

Game 6 takes place on Thursday in Anaheim.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 28, 2026.

Shane Jones, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Draisaitl ignites desperate Oilers in clutch 4-1 win over Ducks

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