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Video: Burnaby’s Ryan Nugent-Hopkins doubles down to push Oilers closer to Stanley Cup Final

The 31-year-old forward’s first multi-goal game of the 2024 playoffs has Edmonton ahead 3-2 on Dallas in the western final.
Kyle Balzer
Kyle Balzer
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Burnaby NHL all-star Ryan Nugent-Hopkins celebrates one of his two goals for the Edmonton Oilers against Dallas in Game 5 of the 2024 western conference final on Friday night, May 31. Edmonton Oilers/X

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has put the Edmonton Oilers within an arm's reach of playing for the Stanley Cup.

The Burnaby NHL all-star, 31, scored two goals that turned out to be the game-winners Friday night, May 31, in Dallas, lifting the orange and blue to a 3-1 Game 5 victory over the Stars.

Edmonton now leads the best-of-seven western conference final series, 3-2, and are one step closer for a chance to potentially end Canada's 31-year championship drought.

"This is why we play, this is why we work so hard," said Nugent-Hopkins after the contest.

"To get ourselves in these situations and to be a part of a group like this is all you can ask for. We have an opportunity here.

"It's going to take a lot of work, but we're excited for it."

The feat was Nugent-Hopkins' first multi-goal game of the 2024 playoffs.

The Burnaby Winter Club alum's fifth and sixth markers this postseason came on power-plays in the first and second periods.

Nugent-Hopkins now has 20 points in 17 tilts — the fourth most in the playoffs thus far behind teammates Connor McDavid (29), Leon Draisaitl (27) and Evan Bouchard (25).

In 66 career playoff games, the first overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft has 16 goals, 43 assists and 59 points.

He's hoping home ice advantage for Game 6 can propel the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in nearly 20 years.

"We give ourselves a chance here," Nugent-Hopkins said. "That's all you can ask."

Edmonton lost the 2006 championship series in seven games to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Oilers have won men's hockey's ultimate prize five times — 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1990.

Puck-drop for Game 6 on Sunday, June 2, against Dallas goes for 5 p.m. PDT.

- with files from The Canadian Press