Bettman Backs the Call, Oilers Face Elimination: What Anaheim's 3-1 Series Lead Means for Game 5 Props

Gary Bettman doesn't usually hold press conferences to defend individual playoff rulings. The fact that he stood before the Associated Press Sports Editors in New York on Tuesday and called Ryan Poehling's overtime winner 'absolutely the right call' tells you everything about how much heat the NHL took after Game 4 — and it also slams the door on any narrative that the Ducks are heading back to Edmonton with an asterisk. Anaheim leads the series 3-1. Game 5 is Tuesday night at Rogers Place. The Ducks are one win from one of the biggest first-round upsets of the past decade.

The goal itself was a chaos play: Poehling's sharp-angle shot deflected off an Oilers skate, trickled through Tristan Jarry's pads, and appeared to barely cross the goal line 2:29 into overtime. Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said he couldn't see it go in and questioned the confidence of the initial on-ice call. Poehling himself wasn't certain until the celebration started. NHL replay officials ultimately held the call, citing net-cam technology that gave them enough clarity — the same technology Bettman pointed to Tuesday when he said the league 'knew for certain' the puck was over the line. Whether you buy the process or not, the outcome is immovable: Edmonton is down 3-1 and Connor McDavid is a game-time call.

That last detail matters more than the officiating controversy at this point. McDavid's status for Game 5 is uncertain, and even if he plays, the Oilers are operating under the weight of a must-win at home with their best player potentially compromised. Anaheim, meanwhile, has been the steadier team across four games — a young, hungry roster that's outperformed its seed and shown genuine defensive structure. The Ducks aren't just stealing a series; they've been the better team more often than not.

For Game 5 props, the structure here favors Anaheim's team total over Edmonton's. The Oilers are pressing in elimination mode, which historically opens ice and leads to a more volatile game — but a hobbled or absent McDavid crushes Edmonton's power-play efficiency and their ability to generate quality looks at even strength. Ducks goaltender play has been the story of this series, and with the Oilers likely forcing the issue, expect more shots on net for Anaheim and more opportunity for Poehling, Trevor Zegras, and Mason McTavish to hit counting-stat props. Poehling's points prop — if posted — carries real value given his OT heroics and the elevated ice time that comes with a closeout game.

On the moneyline, the Ducks as road favorites or near-pick'em in Edmonton is the sharper side if McDavid is officially ruled out. Even if he plays at limited capacity, laying anything north of -130 on the Oilers in this spot feels like paying chalk for a team in freefall. Anaheim at plus money in a closeout spot — where they carry the momentum, the series confidence, and the home crowd's anxiety working against Edmonton — is a position worth taking seriously.