DID YOU KNOW?
Nashville’s Peter Laviolette reached the Conference Finals for the third time as an NHL head coach (also 2006 w/ CAR and 2010 w/ PHI). Elias notes that since the NHL’s playoff draw became conference-based in 1994, only two other head coaches have reached the Conference Finals with three different teams: Ken Hitchcock (DAL, PHI, STL) and Darryl Sutter (CHI, CGY, LAK).

OILERS EXPLODE FOR SEVEN GOALS TO FORCE GAME 7
The Oilers exploded for seven goals – including five in the first period and a hat trick by LeonDraisaitl (3-2—5) – to extend their series with the Ducks to a seventh and deciding game, the first Game 7 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

* Edmonton scored seven goals in a playoff game for the first time since Game 2 of the 1991 Conference Finals vs. MNS (7-2 W). Elias adds that the Oilers scored at least five goals in the first period of a playoff game for the third time in franchise history (also 5 in Game 1 of 1984 DSF vs. WIN and 6 in Game 2 of 1987 DSF vs. LAK).

* The Oilers scored seven goals in a playoff game when facing elimination for the second time in franchise history (also Game 7 of 1984 DF vs. CGY: 7-4 W). Elias adds that Edmonton became the fourth team in NHL history to score five goals in the first period of game when facing elimination, joining Boston (Game 4 of 1980 PRE at PIT), Philadelphia (Game 5 of 1981 QF vs. CGY) and Detroit (Game 4 of 2010 CSF vs. SJS).

* The Oilers will play a Game 7 for the first time since the 2006 Stanley Cup Final at CAR (3-1 L) and 10th time in franchise history. They are 6-3 in the previous nine such contests, including a 3-2 record on the road.

* The Ducks will play a Game 7 for the fifth straight year and ninth time in franchise history. They hold a 2-6 record in their previous eight Game 7s, including a 1-4 mark on home ice; their two Game 7 victories came in the 1997 CQF vs. PHX and 2006 CQF at CGY.

DRAISAITL JOINS ELITE COMPANY WITH FIVE-POINT PERFORMANCE
Leon Draisaitl (3-2—5) established career highs for goals and points in a game (regular-season and playoffs) to become the fifth different player in Oilers franchise history to record at least five points in a playoff game, joining Wayne Gretzky (9x), Jari Kurri (3x), Glenn Anderson (2x) and Paul Coffey (2x).

* Draisaitl became the first player in franchise playoff history to record five points in a game with the Oilers facing elimination. The last NHL player to record five points in any playoff game was Derick Brassard, who tallied 3-2—5 on the road to help the Rangers force Game 7 in the 2015 Conference Finals against the Lightning.

* Draisaitl became the ninth player in NHL history to record a hat trick AND five or more points with his team facing elimination. The others to achieve the feat at home: Canadiens forward Maurice Richard (Game 5 of 1945 SF vs. TOR), Red Wings forward Norm Ullman (Game 6 of 1964 SF vs. CHI), Maple Leafs forward Darryl Sittler (Game 6 of 1976 QF vs. PHI), Bruins forward Ken Linseman (Game 4 of 1985 DSF vs. MTL) and Red Wings forward Johan Franzen (Game 4 of 2010 CSF vs. SJS).

* Draisaitl became just the third Oilers player in the past 25 years to score a playoff hat trick, joining Doug Weight and Bill Guerin who achieved the feat in Games 3 and 4, respectively, of the 2000 Conference Quarterfinals vs. DAL.

* Elias adds that Draisaitl (21 years, 192 days) became the second-youngest player in franchise history to score a hat trick in a playoff game, after Gretzky did so twice as a 20-year-old in the 1981 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

* Draisaitl, who collected 1-3—4 in Game 1 at ANA, has compiled 5-8—13 in this series and 13-13—26 in 18 career games against the Ducks (regular-season and playoffs). Elias notes that he became the first Oilers player to record 13 points in a single playoff series since Bernie Nicholls (5-8—13 in 6 GP) in the 1992 Division Semifinals vs. LAK.

* Mark Letestu (2-2—4) also registered a single-game career high with four points (regular-season and playoffs). Game 6 marked the 15th time in franchise history that multiple Oilers recorded at least four points apiece in the same playoff game – the last such instance was in Game 4 of the 1990 Stanley Cup Final vs. BOS, when Anderson and Craig Simpson each posted 2-2—4.

LOOSE PUCKS
Elias notes that Nashville, who compiled 94 points in 2016-17, became the first club since 2010 (PHI and MTL) to reach the Conference Finals despite finishing the regular season with the fewest points among playoff teams . . . Nashville has recorded four of its five series-clinching victories on home ice . . . Fourteen of 22 games in the Second Round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs (63.6%) have featured a game-winning goal scored in either the third period (9) or overtime (5) . . . Twenty-six of 64 games this postseason (40.6%) have seen the winning team overcome a deficit of at least one goal . . . Ducks forward Rickard Rakell scored for the fourth consecutive game (4-1—5) . . . The start time of Game 6 of the Second Round series between the Senators and Rangers has been set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 9 . . . ICYMI: Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom and Penguins forward Carl Hagelin were mic’d up for Game 5 of their Second Round series . . . Predators forward Kevin Fiala, who was injured in Game 1 of their Second Round series, waved the rally towel before puck drop in Nashville.

SNEAK PEEK AT MONDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Washington @ Pittsburgh, PIT leads 3-2, 7:30 p.m., CBC, TVAS, NBCSN

tthe above information was supplied by the NHL PR department