The Edmonton Oilers were on the ropes but kept their season alive with a massive 4-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 5, bouncing back after three straight losses in their first-round playoff series. But while they forced a Game 6, much of the postgame conversation centered on a hit on Leon Draisaitl that left hockey fans furious.
Outrage Grows After Refs Ignore Big Hit on Oilers Star Leon Draisaitl
Edmonton wasted little time taking control early. Vasily Podkolzin opened the scoring just 2:22 into the first period, finishing off an Evan Bouchard feed with a snap shot past Lukas Dostal. Zach Hyman doubled the lead midway through the frame with a deft tip-in off a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins pass, and less than two minutes later, Draisaitl made it 3-0 with a redirection off another Bouchard setup.
The Oilers were rolling. Anaheim cut into the deficit in the second when Alex Killorn scored on the power play, but Draisaitl answered quickly, burying his second of the night off a no-look Connor McDavid pass to restore a 4-1 lead.
Then came the moment that sparked outrage.
With 2:40 remaining in the second period, Ducks veteran Chris Kreider hit Draisaitl from behind as the Oilers star moved the puck, sending him hard into the boards. No penalty was called, and that decision immediately set off a wave of criticism.
Many around the league felt it was an obvious missed call. NHL reporter Kelsey Surmacz framed it as part of a larger issue, criticizing the league for failing to protect elite players when games matter most. “This may be unpopular, but I’ll die on the hill that the NHL playoffs being officiated completely differently than the regular season – making them favor physicality over skill – is ludicrous,” Surmacz wrote.
Penguins beat writer Josh Yohe’s reaction was simpler but just as sharp. His “Right in front of the ref. Come on,” captured the disbelief many felt watching a hit they viewed as obvious go uncalled.
World Hockey Report took a harsher tone, calling the missed infraction “embarrassing,” reflecting the frustration spreading across social media as fans and analysts questioned how officials missed it.
NHL analyst Ryder went a step further, arguing the play warranted at least a minor penalty, and possibly more. “That Kreider hit from behind on Drai was at least a 2, maybe more if 29 stays down. Crickets from the refs. How is that not called?”
The biggest relief for Edmonton was that Draisaitl appeared fine. He got up, stayed in the game, and finished the night without any visible issues, a major sigh of relief considering what’s at stake.
Still, the missed call only added fuel to ongoing debate around playoff officiating and whether dangerous plays are too often overlooked in the name of “letting them play.”
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For the Oilers, though, the focus now shifts forward. Their season is still alive.
Game 5 showed the fight is still there, and now Edmonton heads to Anaheim for Game 6 with a chance to even the series.
