Leon Draisaitl scored twice as the Edmonton Oilers kept their season alive with a commanding 4-1 victory over the visiting Anaheim Ducks in Game 5 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series on Tuesday night.

The Ducks still lead the best-of-seven series 3-2, with Game 6 set for Thursday in Anaheim.

Vasily Podkolzin and Zach Hyman also scored for Edmonton, which overwhelmed Anaheim early by netting three goals in the opening 10:13 and forcing goalie Lukas Dostal out of the game. Defenseman Evan Bouchard recorded three assists, while Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each added two assists.

“They’ve been playing really well and I don’t think we’ve been at our best,” McDavid said. “I thought we got off to a good start, obviously. That helps. Playing with the lead is always nice.”

Connor Ingram made 29 saves for the Oilers, who bounced back after a 4-3 overtime loss in Game 4. On the other side, Alex Killorn scored the lone goal for Anaheim, which is still seeking its first playoff series win in nine years.

Dostal allowed three goals on just nine shots before being replaced by Ville Husso, who finished with 10 saves.

“That was one that got away from us,” Ducks coach Joel Quenneville said. “Not good enough. We will need a much better effort at home on Thursday.”

Each team scored once on the power play, but Edmonton controlled the early tempo, outshooting Anaheim 12-3 through the opening stretch before finishing with a 30-20 advantage in shots.

The Oilers opened the scoring just 2:22 into the first period when Bouchard found Podkolzin for a wrist shot from the left circle. At 8:33, Hyman redirected a loose puck after a turnover behind the net to make it 2-0.

Draisaitl then extended the lead to 3-0 at 10:13, deflecting a point shot to chase Dostal from the game.

Killorn briefly brought Anaheim back within reach early in the second period, finishing a 3-on-2 rush at 8:26 to cut the deficit to 3-1. But Edmonton quickly answered when Draisaitl struck again on the power play at 10:24 to restore the three-goal cushion.

“We’ve got to have a response after tonight’s game,” Killorn said. “We can’t be coming back from three goals down.”

The Oilers now return home with momentum, needing one more win to force a decisive Game 7. -Field Level Media/Reuters