Connor McDavid’s goal 5:03 into overtime gave the visiting Oilers a 5-4 victory over the Flames on Thursday in Calgary, Alberta, sending them to the Western Conference final.
Darnell Nurse, Jesse Puljujarvi, Zach Hyman and Evan Bouchard also scored for the Oilers, who erased yet another multi-goal deficit en route to claiming the best-of-seven series in five games. Edmonton goaltender Mike Smith made 32 saves.
Leon Draisaitl collected four assists, giving him at least three points in five consecutive games, an NHL playoff record. Draisaitl collected 17 points in the series.
In overtime, McDavid took a feed from Draisaitl in the slot and ripped a shot off the post and in for his seventh goal of the playoffs.
The tally gave McDavid his only point of the night.
“I was bad all night,” the Edmonton captain said. “I was riding the coattails of my teammates and got a great opportunity and so I’m happy to contribute.”
The Oilers, who are headed to the first conference finals for the first time since 2006, will face the winner of the Avalanche-Blues series. Colorado leads St. Louis 3-2 entering Game 6 on Friday.
McDavid said of getting to the West finals, “It means everything to me and this group. We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs, and this is one of the ups.”
Andrew Mangiapane, Mikael Backlund, Johnny Gaudreau and Calle Jarnkrok scored for the Flames, while goalie Jacob Markstrom stopped 30 shots. Backlund also had an assist, and Blake Coleman had two helpers.
The finish capped yet another crazy clash. Just like the first two games in Calgary, the hosts blew a 2-0 lead — though the Flames did recover to win Game 1.
For the Flames, the loss was controversial. Coleman appeared to score a go-ahead goal late in regulation, but upon review, it was ruled he kicked in the puck.
