Zach Hyman’s late goal propels the Oilers to victory in Game 4, setting an NHL record for their fifth consecutive playoff comeback victory.

The Edmonton Oilers are redefining what it means to be resilient in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. With their backs against the wall and the crowd roaring inside Rogers Place, Zach Hyman delivered a moment that will live in franchise lore—scoring a dramatic late goal in Game 4 to secure a 4-3 win and push the Oilers to an unprecedented fifth straight playoff comeback victory.

The goal didn’t just give Edmonton a crucial win in their second-round series—it also cemented their place in NHL history. The Oilers are now the first team to mount five consecutive comeback victories in a single postseason, a feat that reflects both their offensive firepower and unwavering belief in one another.

“We believe we’re never out of it,” said Hyman postgame, fresh off celebrating with a euphoric bench. “That’s been our mindset every time we’ve fallen behind in these playoffs. Tonight, it was just about sticking with it and finding a way.”

With the game tied 3-3 and just under two minutes left in regulation, Connor McDavid slipped through the neutral zone with a burst of speed and dished the puck to Hyman, who had been hovering near the right circle. The veteran winger made no mistake, firing a wrist shot past the glove of the opposing goaltender—an elite finish that sent the Edmonton crowd into a frenzy.

It was Hyman’s seventh goal of the playoffs, a tally that leads the team and speaks to his clutch instincts. But more than the goal itself, it was the culmination of another relentless effort from an Oilers team that continues to win in the most dramatic fashion imaginable.

This wasn’t an isolated performance. Edmonton has made it a habit of falling behind and clawing its way back in these playoffs. Game 4 marked the fifth straight game where the Oilers overcame a deficit to win—a streak that dates back to their Round 1 series against the Los Angeles Kings.

In Game 2 against LA, they were down 2-0 before storming back to win 4-3 in overtime. Game 5 saw them erase another two-goal deficit. Even Game 6, the series-clincher, featured an early 1-0 hole that they turned into a 5-1 rout.

Against their current opponent, things haven’t gotten easier. Game 1 was a rollercoaster 5-4 win in overtime, after trailing 4-2 midway through the third period. Game 3 was a gritty 3-2 victory following a 2-1 second-period disadvantage. And now, in Game 4, the Oilers came back from down 3-1 in the second period.

“We’re learning how to win in different ways,” said head coach Kris Knoblauch. “These comebacks aren’t by design, but they do show the character of this group.”

While Hyman may have grabbed the spotlight with his game-winner, it was once again Connor McDavid setting the tone throughout. The Oilers captain had three assists in Game 4, bringing his playoff total to 17 points in eight games—a blistering pace even by his own lofty standards.

McDavid’s leadership and on-ice brilliance have played a central role in the Oilers’ comeback streak. Whether it’s his neutral-zone takeovers, his threading of impossible passes, or his uncanny ability to shift momentum with one shift, the 27-year-old superstar continues to deliver when the stakes are highest.

“He’s the heartbeat of this team,” said veteran defenseman Mattias Ekholm. “Every time he’s on the ice, the other team has to hold its breath.”

Leon Draisaitl, too, has been electric. He added a goal and assist in Game 4, making it 15 points in eight games for the German sniper. His playoff chemistry with McDavid remains the deadliest duo in hockey.

Evander Kane, often the spark plug for Edmonton’s physicality and swagger, scored the tying goal midway through the third, bulldozing his way to the net and slamming home a rebound. The Oilers’ top six continue to be the driving force, but timely contributions from players like Ryan McLeod and Warren Foegele have helped build the depth needed for a long postseason run.

“Depth scoring and guys buying in to play on both sides of the puck—that’s been a game-changer,” said Knoblauch. “We’ve seen that in every comeback.”

Though goaltender Stuart Skinner allowed three goals in the opening two periods, his third-period performance was nothing short of spectacular. He turned away all 12 shots he faced in the final frame, including a breakaway stop and a glove save that preserved the 3-3 tie before Hyman’s winner.

Skinner has faced scrutiny in past playoff runs, but this year he appears more poised and confident. Backed by a defense corps led by Darnell Nurse, Cody Ceci, and Brett Kulak, the Oilers have gradually tightened up as each game progresses—another key to their comeback mastery.

“We’ve learned from last year’s mistakes,” said Nurse. “Now we focus on structure when we’re behind, not panic. It’s paying off.”

No team in NHL history had previously won five straight playoff games after trailing. That level of resilience has typically belonged to teams who rode it all the way to the Stanley Cup—something not lost on this Oilers squad.

“We’re proud of it, sure, but we also know there’s a bigger goal,” said McDavid. “Records are nice, but the Stanley Cup is the only thing we’re chasing.”

Still, the record is significant. It speaks to how dangerous the Oilers are, even when behind. It demoralizes opponents and energizes fans. In some ways, it has become their identity—a team that plays its best with a mountain to climb

Edmonton is buzzing with playoff fever. Following Hyman’s goal, downtown erupted in celebration, with fans spilling into the streets waving flags and honking car horns. Rogers Place, long one of the NHL’s loudest venues, reached deafening decibel levels with each goal.

“We feel the city behind us,” said Draisaitl. “That energy—it’s real. And it pushes us.”

From kids in Oilers jerseys in elementary schools to watch parties taking over sports bars, the city is alive in a way that hasn’t been seen since the franchise’s Stanley Cup Final run in 2006. There’s a sense that this year could be different—that the ghosts of past playoff failures might finally be exorcised.

With the series now tied 2-2, Game 5 shifts back to hostile territory. The Oilers know the importance of seizing momentum after such an emotional victory.

“There’s no time to relax,” said Knoblauch. “Game 5 is massive. We’ve got to start better, because at some point, these comebacks are going to run out.”

But if the past five games are any indication, this Oilers team has found a way to rise when the lights shine brightest. And with McDavid, Draisaitl, and Hyman leading the way, they just might have enough magic left to keep chasing history.

This playoff run has already rewritten chapters of NHL history, but it’s not finished yet. Zach Hyman’s late heroics in Game 4 weren’t just another tally in the win column—they were a statement. A reminder that the Oilers, for all their past wounds and postseason heartbreaks, are no longer fragile.

They are forged by fire. Hardened by setbacks. And more dangerous than ever.

“Don’t count us out,” Hyman said, flashing a grin. “We’ve got more in us.”