Oilers need to play tightly again to stay alive against Ducks in Game 6

The Edmonton Oilers beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-1 in Game 5 Tuesday night, avoiding elimination.

More of the same, please.

What the Edmonton Oilers did in the do-or-die Game 5 Tuesday night – scoring throughout the lineup, limiting Anaheim Ducks power plays and solid goaltending – they need to do again Thursday in southern California to remain alive in this year’s National Hockey League playoffs.

The Oilers beat the visiting Ducks 4-1 at Rogers Place to bring the best-of-seven series to three games to two in favour of Anaheim.

Evan Bouchard said after the game that desperation played a role in the win – “When our back’s up against the wall, we play good hockey,” the star defenceman who notched three assists Tuesday told reporters – but so did Kris Knoblauch’s lineup tinkering.

Pairing Connor McDavid on a line with Leon Draisaitl along with winger Kasperi Kapanen, while assigning Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to centre Zach Hyman and Vasily Podkolzin, paid off for the Oilers’ head coach.

Hyman and Podkolzin scored the Oilers’ first two goals at even strength, while McDavid fed Draisaitl for goals both at five-on-five and on the power play.

Knoblauch said it was easy to pull Podkolzin away from his oft-partner Draisaitl – “Whatever line Podkolzin is on, he usually elevates it,” the coach said Wednesday – and allow McDavid and Draisaitl, the team’s two superstars, to play together at even strength as well as during their usual power-play partnership.

“Going into an elimination game where we had to change our fate, ultimately, we felt that we’re going to put the game in our two best players’ hands and let them dictate how this game is going to go,” Knoblauch told reporters.

Not only that, teaming nos. 97 and 29 helped take some pressure off the former: McDavid had been a game-time decision Tuesday as he’s been nursing an undisclosed ailment, thought to be a hurt right leg.

“Absolutely, take a little bit of pressure off him, having Leon have the puck a little bit more, rather than Connor always having to generate (offence) himself with the puck,” Knoblauch said.

“Obviously, he’s got some pretty good support there, with Leon being able to make plays, but Kapanen has been playing well, too.”

Beyond the forward lines, Connor Ingram put in a steady performance in his return to the Oilers’ goal, stopping 29 of 30 Ducks shots – Tristan Jarry had manned the pipes in the previous game – and Bouchard’s crisp passing helped generate three-quarters of the team’s output on Tuesday.

The coach credited the team as a whole for tighter checking and limiting quality scoring opportunities for the Ducks.

“A more structured game for the goalies – more outside shots, (limiting) the breakaways (and) the odd man rushes – (makes it) easier for them to play well, and they’re able to do their thing and make the saves,” Knoblauch said. “But when it gets opened up ... it’s more difficult for them to make those saves on a regular basis. As the series (has progressed), it’s been getting tighter and tighter.”