Edmonton Oilers have history on their side ahead of must-win Game 6
The Edmonton Oilers will need a victory to keep their season alive tonight against the Anaheim Ducks.
This will be the 14th time in franchise history that the Oilers will enter Game 6 of a playoff series with their season on the line. The last time it happened was in last year’s Stanley Cup Final, where they dropped a heartbreaking 5-1 decision to the Florida Panthers.
The time before that was in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, where they defeated the Panthers 5-1 to force a Game 7. So, when the Oilers take to the ice in Anaheim on Thursday night, it won’t be anything new for Edmonton fans, who are used to being pushed to the brink.
But what does history say about the Oilers in this situation? Well, a deep dive into Edmonton’s playoff history gives the team a slight edge to come out on top and force Game 7 against the Ducks.
Throughout the 14 must-win Game 6’s that the Oilers have played as a franchise, they have a record of 8-5.
Tonight will be the 14th time in #Oilers franchise history that they will play a must-win Game 6
They've only come back from a 3-1 deficit twice to win a series (1998 vs. COL, 1990 vs. WPG)
Overall, EDM has an 8-5 record in these Game 6 situations.
— Preston Hodgkinson (@NHLHodgkinson) April 30, 2026
The Oilers had to start digging out of a 3-1 series deficit before getting to this point. A decisive 4-1 victory in Game 5 cut Anaheim’s lead to 3-2, but Edmonton will need to win two more games if they hope to keep their Stanley Cup hopes alive.
Coming back from a 3-1 deficit is not an easy thing to do, and it hasn’t happened a lot in Oilers history. In fact, it’s only happened a total of two times in franchise history, against the Colorado Avalanche in 1998 and the Winnipeg Jets in 1990.
Edmonton managed to win its fifth Stanley Cup after that comeback against the Jets.
This iteration of the Oilers will have to overcome the odds if they want to make it to their third-straight Stanley Cup Final. If any team in this league can do it, it’s one led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.