McDavid Puts Oilers ‘On His Back’ With 4-Point Performance in Game 5 to Keep Season Alive
By [Your Name] | June 1, 2025
With the season hanging in the balance, Connor McDavid delivered the kind of performance that defines legends and keeps championship dreams alive. In a do-or-die Game 5 of the Western Conference Final, McDavid recorded four points — one goal and three assists — to lead the Edmonton Oilers to a 5-2 victory over the Dallas Stars, staving off elimination and shifting momentum back to Alberta.
It was vintage McDavid — fast, fierce, and relentless. The Oilers’ captain seemed to skate on another level, slicing through defenders, creating plays from nothing, and most importantly, leading by example. Facing a 3-1 series deficit, McDavid’s will to win was evident from the opening puck drop. By the end of the night, it was clear: the best player in hockey wasn’t ready for the summer.
McDavid’s Masterclass
McDavid opened the scoring midway through the first period with a dazzling solo effort. Picking up the puck in the neutral zone, he turned on the jets, blew past Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen, and beat goaltender Jake Oettinger with a backhand deke that brought Rogers Place to its feet. The goal not only set the tone for the night but also ignited the Oilers’ bench, which had been searching for answers after two straight losses.
“He just took over,” said head coach Kris Knoblauch after the game. “When your captain plays like that, everyone else follows. He wasn’t going to let us go down without a fight.”
McDavid followed his opening goal with assists on goals by Zach Hyman, Evan Bouchard, and Leon Draisaitl, each showcasing his elite vision and poise. Whether it was threading a pass through traffic or orchestrating a power-play opportunity, McDavid was at the heart of every offensive surge.
His final assist — a no-look feed to Draisaitl on a 2-on-1 rush late in the third — was the exclamation point on a night that will be etched in Oilers’ postseason lore.
Supporting Cast Rises
Though McDavid’s heroics rightly took center stage, the Oilers’ supporting cast also delivered when it mattered most. Zach Hyman broke his scoring drought with a crucial second-period goal, crashing the net to bury a rebound and give Edmonton a 2-1 lead.
On defense, Evan Bouchard continued his outstanding playoff run, notching a goal and an assist while logging over 24 minutes of ice time. Stuart Skinner, criticized after Game 4, rebounded with a solid 31-save performance, holding off a desperate Stars offense that threw everything they had at the Edmonton net.
Darnell Nurse, often under the microscope in high-stakes games, played one of his steadiest games of the postseason, limiting chances in the slot and winning key puck battles.
Stars Stunned
For Dallas, the loss was a stark reminder of the challenge of closing out a series — especially against a team with a generational talent like McDavid. After seizing control of the series with two convincing wins in Games 3 and 4, the Stars were unable to match the intensity of a desperate Oilers team.
Roope Hintz and Wyatt Johnston each scored for Dallas, but the Stars failed to capitalize on their power-play chances, going 0-for-3 with the man advantage. Oettinger, who had been brilliant through much of the postseason, was left exposed too often by defensive breakdowns.
“It’s on us,” Stars coach Peter DeBoer said. “We knew they’d come out hard, and we just didn’t match their urgency. McDavid was on another level, and we didn’t have an answer for him tonight.”
Looking Ahead to Game 6
The series now shifts back to Dallas for Game 6, where the Oilers will look to once again stave off elimination and force a decisive Game 7. The Stars, meanwhile, are hoping to regain control on home ice and punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final.
For Edmonton, the formula is clear: follow McDavid’s lead and keep the pressure on.
“We’ve been through adversity all year,” said Leon Draisaitl. “This group believes. When Connor plays like that, we all want to rise to his level. We’re not done yet.”
The Oilers’ win in Game 5 was more than just a victory — it was a statement. It was a reminder that in the crucible of playoff hockey, one player can tilt the ice. And when that player is Connor McDavid, anything is possible.
Game 6 is set for Tuesday night in Dallas, where the Stars will face the full weight of McDavid’s momentum — and a revitalized Oilers team that has no intention of going home.