The Edmonton Oilers have a 3-0 lead over the Anaheim Ducks after the first period in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Tuesday night.
The Oilers struck first just over two minutes into the game as Evan Bouchard found a streaking Vasily Podkolzin, who beat Lukas Dostal up high for the 1-0 lead. It was Edmonton’s first shot on goal.
Zach Hyman doubled Edmonton’s lead five minutes later as he redirected a shot from the point by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins past Dostal to make it 2-0.
Leon Draisaitl made it a 3-0 game two minutes later as he tipped in a shot from Bouchard past Dostal.
Draisaitl’s goal would end Dostal’s night after he allowed three goals on eight shots, giving way to backup goaltender Ville Husso.
Edmonton received the first power play of the game midway through the period as Ducks defenceman Ian Moore went off for tripping but failed to score, managing just one shot on the man advantage.
With just under six minutes to go, Draisaitl (holding) and Mikael Granlund (embellishment) both went to the box for off-setting minor penalties putting things at 4-on-4.
Oilers captain Connor McDavid and forward Jason Dickinson were both game-time decisions heading into tonight’s contest but the team announced they would play shortly before puck drop.
Goaltender Connor Ingram also returned to the Edmonton net after Tristan Jarry got the start in Game 4. Ingram started the first three games of the series before the team went to Jarry on Sunday night.
The Ducks lead the best-of-seven series 3-1.
