The Edmonton Oilers are on a roll—six straight postseason wins, and each more electrifying than the last. In Game 2 of their Western Conference Semifinal series, they did it again. Down two goals, Edmonton stormed back behind a pair of breakthrough tallies from unlikely heroes—Jake Walman and Vasily Podkolzin—before Leon Draisaitl capped it off with a thunderous overtime winner that sent Rogers Place into a frenzy.
For the Oilers, who have made a habit of finding another gear in the postseason, this 5-4 OT triumph over their Pacific Division rivals wasn’t just another comeback—it was a declaration. They’re not just surviving these playoffs. They’re thriving, rallying, and imposing their will.
The night began with Edmonton looking somewhat flat-footed. The visiting team took advantage early, with two first-period goals that silenced the crowd. There was a noticeable lack of urgency in the Oilers’ defensive zone, leading to breakdowns that resulted in a 2-0 deficit by the first intermission. Edmonton goaltender Stuart Skinner faced a barrage of shots, and despite a few key saves, his teammates didn’t give him much help in the early going.
But if there’s one thing this Oilers squad has proven, it’s that no lead is safe. Edmonton came alive in the second, drawing energy from the crowd and applying relentless pressure. Zach Hyman continued his torrid postseason pace, netting his eighth goal of the playoffs just four minutes into the period, cutting the deficit to 2-1. The goal re-energized the bench and shifted momentum.
The tide turned completely just six minutes later when Jake Walman, known more for his defensive steadiness than his scoring prowess, joined the rush and fired a laser from the blue line that beat the opposing netminder clean. It was Walman’s first career playoff goal and it couldn’t have come at a more crucial moment. His teammates mobbed him at the boards as the crowd erupted, sensing the comeback was in full swing.
Still, the opposition wasn’t done. A late second-period power-play goal put the visitors back in front 3-2, once again testing the Oilers’ resolve. But Edmonton answered immediately in the third. This time it was Vasily Podkolzin—another surprise contributor—who buried a rebound in tight for his first career playoff goal. For the young forward, who has battled for minutes all season, the moment was euphoric. His gritty performance earned praise postgame, with coach Kris Knoblauch calling him “a game-changer tonight.”
The back-and-forth nature of the contest only intensified. The teams traded goals once more, with Connor McDavid threading a spectacular cross-ice pass to Evan Bouchard, who wired it in to tie the game at 4-4 with just under five minutes left in regulation. It was vintage McDavid—his 14th assist of the playoffs, and his presence on the ice late in games has become a constant source of tension for opposing defenses.
When regulation ended, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. Edmonton, with the weight of expectation and momentum on its shoulders, took the ice in overtime with the confidence of a team that’s been there before. And in the end, it was Leon Draisaitl, the steely-eyed sniper and perennial postseason performer, who delivered.
The OT sequence was a perfect encapsulation of Draisaitl’s elite skill and poise. He took a feed from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, skated in with calm precision, and unleashed a wicked wrister that soared past the glove side to clinch Game 2. It was his sixth goal of the playoffs and yet another in a growing list of clutch postseason moments for the German star.
The crowd exploded. Players jumped the bench. And as Draisaitl was swarmed by teammates, it was clear that this wasn’t just a single win—it was a continuation of a statement. The Oilers are now halfway to the Western Conference Final, riding the high of a six-game postseason win streak and a deep belief in each other.
“We just don’t quit,” Draisaitl said afterward. “We’ve got a group in here that believes we can win every game, no matter the situation.”
The comeback was emblematic of that mindset. Edmonton’s depth players have stepped up at exactly the right time, complementing their superstar core. With Podkolzin and Walman adding their names to the scoresheet and Skinner settling in after a shaky start, the Oilers showcased the type of balance required to go on a deep playoff run.
Meanwhile, McDavid and Draisaitl continue to be the engine. McDavid now has 18 points in eight playoff games, and Draisaitl has reaffirmed his status as one of the most dangerous postseason performers of his generation. Together, they’ve combined for magic time and again, and their leadership—on and off the ice—is fueling Edmonton’s push.
Kris Knoblauch, the Oilers’ coach, praised his team’s composure and resilience. “We’ve had our backs against the wall a few times now, and each time we’ve found another level. That’s what championship teams do.”
That championship talk is starting to feel more real. With a 2-0 series lead and the next two games on the road, the Oilers have seized control of this series. But they’re not looking too far ahead. Draisaitl, McDavid, and the rest of the core know the playoffs are a marathon, not a sprint.
Still, six straight wins is hard to ignore. The swagger, the scoring depth, the goaltending—it’s all coming together at just the right time.
And if Game 2 was any indication, the Oilers aren’t done delivering heart-stopping, edge-of-your-seat moments. The city of Edmonton can feel it. This team is chasing more than just wins. They’re chasing history.