Connor McDavid entered Game 5 with the Edmonton Oilers’ season on the line, but led a strong 4-1 effort to avoid elimination. His two-point night helped the offense, but his focus stayed on a larger concern as the Oilers have often been spotted losing their defensive structure in this series.
In this win, the Oilers played with control and partially avoided a pattern that has followed them throughout the series. The result keeps them alive, yet it also reinforces a problem that continues to influence how this matchup is playing out.
Connor McDavid Points to Special Teams and Execution As Oilers’ Key Issues vs Ducks
McDavid played a central role in Edmonton’s 4-1 win, recording two assists while driving play across all three zones. He created space through controlled entries and set up Leon Draisaitl with a no-look pass that led to a power-play goal. Evan Bouchard added three assists, helping maintain puck movement and structure from the back end, and looking like the best player on the ice for the most part.
Despite the result, McDavid made it clear that the group understands where the real problem sits. Speaking after the game on NHL on TNT, he said, “They’ve been playing really well, and I don’t think we’ve been at our best.” His assessment pointed to holes in their execution, especially in earlier games where Edmonton struggled to maintain leads.
He also addressed the importance of power play and penalty kill, adding, “Special teams has been a bit of an Achilles heel this series, and I thought coming out even on the special teams battle was big, and we just found a way tonight. We got to get one win, one win at a time, and we got to go win a big one on Thursday.”
That shift was visible in Game 5, where Edmonton handled both sides of special teams with more control than in previous outings. The Oilers scored once on four power play opportunities, and defended one power play opportunity against the Ducks.
The Oilers also tightened their defensive structure and limited high-danger chances against. Goaltender Connor Ingram backed that effort with 29 saves, holding firm when Anaheim pushed in the second period. Edmonton managed the neutral zone better, cutting off speed through tighter gaps and quicker support.
McDavid, who was a game-time decision before Game 5, also dismissed any concerns about his availability, saying, “Never, never, never close,” when asked if he considered sitting out. He pointed instead to the collective effort, noting that “We got a lot of guys that are digging in and giving everything they got,” which shows the team’s urgency in elimination scenarios.
The chemistry between McDavid and Draisaitl also stood out, especially with both players starting together. McDavid explained, “We’ve been doing this a long time together. The chemistry is just there,” emphasizing how familiarity helps them generate offense under pressure.
With the series now at 3-2, Edmonton still faces a difficult path. The team must win on the road in Game 6 to extend the series. The Oilers showed they can control a game when execution is sharp, but sustaining that level remains the real test, especially after that pre-game injury scare featuring McDavid and Jason Dickinson.
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