The Edmonton Oilers had their backs against the wall, down 3–1 in the series facing elimination on home ice, and their captain was a game-time decision. But naturally, they came out and demolished the Ducks.
Vasily Podkolzin buried the opener 2:22 into the game. Zach Hyman redirected home a second goal just over six minutes later. Then Leon Draisaitl tipped in a third at 10:13, and Dostal’s night was over before the first TV time-out. The Honda Center faithful will have to wait at least two more days to pop champagne.
Connor McDavid, who hobbled through morning skate and didn’t take line rushes, finished with two assists. Evan Bouchard, invisible through the first four games, had three helpers. Connor Ingram made 29 saves. And the Oilers, written off by half the hockey world after blowing a 3–0 series lead and looking lifeless in a Game four overtime loss, forced a Game six in Anaheim on Thursday night.
Connor McDavid knows the Ducks are under pressure too
The captain was honest about the Oilers still needing to face a mountain. But McDavid wasn’t about to let the Ducks off easy.
“All we did is survive one more day,” McDavid said. “The pressure is still on us, but it’s a big game for them too. I’m sure they’ll be feeling that too. Closeout games are tough.”
Yes, Edmonton is down 3–2. They need to win on the road. But Anaheim had a chance to close this out and couldn’t. Now they have to do it again, in front of their own fans with the knowledge that if they stumble, they’re coming back to this building where the Oilers just boat-raced them.
“Their building, they’re not going to want to come back to Edmonton. So, pressure’s on them, but we got to find a way to survive another day. It will take a big effort. Really, really big effort,” McDavid continued. “We’re still in a tough, tough spot. Really tough spot. And we got to find a way to win in a tough building. Thought we were right there in Game 4. Had a great opportunity in Game 6.”
He wasn’t wrong about Game 4. The Oilers were right there in that overtime loss. But Tuesday was different.
McDavid gives Podkolzin his due
Vasily Podkolzin has been a revelation throughout these playoffs and he delivered the first blow Tuesday night.
“Pod’s been great. He’s been one of our best players all playoffs long and plays really, really hard. That’s a big goal there. Great shot,” Connor McDavid said.
Head coach Kris Knoblauch echoed the praise about Podkolzin’s versatility.
“He improves every line he goes to, whether it’s the first, second, third, or fourth line, he has always improved it,” Knoblauch said. “And a lot of it is just being able to play simple. He’s a good player. He has good skills, you saw on his goal, he catches a knuckler pass, catches it, releases it right away and puts it in a really small area.”
The physicality and the willingness to do the dirty work, he brings it all there.
“Obviously you see the physicality, he’s responsible defensively. Yeah, he brings everything,” Knoblauch continued. “I think there’s a lot of guys that fight to play with Podkolzin because of everything he brings. And, you know, tonight he was good.”
McDavid and Oilers’ best hockey coming
When asked if McDavid looked healthier, the captain deflected with a snort and a simple “yeah.” But Knoblauch saw clear signs of improvement.
“Yeah, absolutely. I really think he’s played his best in the last four periods,” Knoblauch said. “The third period in Game 4, I thought he had some really good scoring chances, drove the net two or three times late in the game. We almost scored on one of them with about five minutes left. But yeah, he’s just continuing to get better, so that’s a good sign for us.”
Connor McDavid finished with two assists and looked more comfortable on his skates than he had since the ankle injury. But he wasn’t ready to celebrate.
“It will take a big effort. Really, really big effort,” he said. “We’re still in a tough, tough spot. Really tough spot. And we got to find a way to win in a tough building. Thought we were right there in Game 4. Had a great opportunity in Game 6.”
He paused, then said the line that will follow the Oilers to Southern California.
“You got to be grateful for just getting to the next day. All we did is survive one more day. And the pressure is still on us, but it’s a big game for them too. I’m sure they’ll be feeling that too. Closeout games are tough.”
Edmonton isn’t done. And if the Ducks want to close this series out, they’re going to have to do it with the weight of expectation on their shoulders.
Game six is Thursday night at Honda Center. Puck drop is at 8 p.m. MST.
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