Panama's new president-elect, José Raúl Mulino, was a late entry in the race

PANAMA CITY (AP) — José Raúl Mulino said he was practically retired from politics just over six months ago.

Now, he’ll be Panama’s president for the next five years.

Standing before a pack of supporters Sunday night, Mulino said: “I never imagined this.”

In a historic and tumultuous election, preliminary results put Mulino on top to lead the normally sleepy Central American nation through a moment of political tension, historic migration and a struggling economy.

The 64-year-old lawyer, whose last position in politics was as minister of security in then President Ricardo Martinelli's 2009-2014 administration, was initially tapped by the popular former leader to be his running mate after Martinelli’s wife declined.

But then Martinelli was disqualified from running after he was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for a money laundering conviction. Mulino took his place, and ended up winning Sunday’s presidential election with nearly 35% of the vote and a nine-point lead over his nearest opponent after dodging constitutional challenges to his own candidacy.

The president-elect got there with strong support from Martinelli, arguably the most important tool in Mulino’s campaign as he rode the fiery ex-leader’s popularity to victory.

While he lacks Martinelli’s charisma, the economic boom seen under his ally pushed many voters to support Mulino at a time that Panama’s economy has lagged.

The former president, who has been sheltering in the Nicaraguan Embassy since February after receiving political asylum, said his trust for Mulino dates back 30 years.

“Mulino seems a little tough, but he is a good guy, serious, and is the only one prepared to take on this great challenge and knows how the economy works to lift the country,” Martinelli said in a video broadcast to supporters at Mulino’s campaign close.

A maritime law attorney who graduated from Tulane University in New Orleans, Mulino became known as a private business leader who took part in a civil movement against the dictatorship of Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega, who was ousted by an American invasion on Dec. 20, 1989.

He acted as vice minister of foreign affairs in the 1989-1994 administration of President Guillermo Endara, who took office after the fall of Noriega and the end of the Panamanian military regime. Mulino later remained in charge of the country’s international policy in the last part of that administration.

Mulino remained active in politics and more than a decade later backed Martinelli in the election that the supermarket magnate won in 2009. Mulino was appointed minister of the interior and justice, later taking the reins of the public security office.

Mulino says one of the achievements during that time was to “recover” a swath of Panama on the border with Colombia, known as the Darien Gap, which “was in the hands of the narco-guerrillas” of the neighboring country.

As president, he has promised to stop soaring levels of migration through the Darien jungles, where more than a half million people crossed last year, though experts question the viability of his plan due to the sheer quantities of vulnerable people traveling through the passage.

“I will make the effort to end this migratory crisis in our territory with respect for human rights and with sincere international participation,” Mulino said at the closing of his campaign last week.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted that controlling migration was one of the countries' shared goals in congratulating Mulino for his victory.

"I look forward to continuing our strategic partnership and advancing our shared goals of democratic governance and inclusive economic prosperity," Blinken said in a statement Monday. “Looking ahead, the United States will continue to work with Panama on our common goals of inclusive, sustainable economic growth, bolstering citizen security, and cooperatively curbing irregular migration through the Darien.”

As security minister, he was also the target of harsh criticisms following police repression of a protest of Indigenous banana growers in the northern provinces of Bocas del Toro and Chiriqui in 2010. The crackdown left two dead and more than 100 injured by pellet shots, among them some with eye injuries.

“He was quite severe in controlling social protests,” Panamanian political analyst Rodrigo Noriega told The Associated Press before the election. “There are a lot of unknowns about him.”

A supporter of Achieving Goals presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino stands near a screen outside his campaign headquarters as he waits for the results of the general elections in Panama City, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

A girl waits for an adult to vote during a general election in Panama City, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino, of the Achieving Goals party, speaks to supporters after winning on the day of the general electing in Panama City, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

A man votes assisted by a woman during a general election in Panama City, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

An electoral worker sticks a ballot on a polling station's wall to use as sample during a general election in Panama City, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Supporters of Achieving Goals presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino celebrate early results after the closing of polls for general elections in Panama City, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

An electoral worker empties a ballot box to count after general elections polls closed in Panama City, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

An Indigenous woman votes during a general election in Panama City, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

People line up to vote outside a polling station during a general election in Panama City, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Supporters of Achieving Goals presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino react to early results after the closing of polls for general elections in Panama City, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino, of the Achieving Goals party, celebrates after winning on the day of the general electing in Panama City, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino, of the Achieving Goals party, center, waves to supporters after winning on the day of the general electing in Panama City, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino, left, stands beside Marta Linares de Martinelli, the wife of former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli, as he addresses supporters after winning on the day of the general electing in Panama City, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino, of the Achieving Goals party, hold hands with a supporter after winning on the day of the general electing in Panama City, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino, of the Achieving Goals party, hold hands with a supporter after winning on the day of the general electing in Panama City, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino, of the Achieving Goals party, celebrates after winning on the day of the general electing in Panama City, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Achieving Goals presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino arrives to Nicaraguan Embassy after voting during a general election in Panama City, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Achieving Goals presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino leaves after voting during a general election in Panama City, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Achieving Goals presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino holds his ballot during a general election in Panama City, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Achieving Goals presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino marks his ballot as he chooses his preferences during a general election in Panama City, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino, of the Achieving Goals party, speaks to supporters after winning on the day of the general electing in Panama City, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino, of the Achieving Goals party, is surrounded by supporters after winning on the day of the general electing in Panama City, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — The Edmonton Oilers weren't ready to have their season end. Now, they're going to the limit in their second-round series against the Vancouver Canucks.

Evan Bouchard and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each had a goal and two assists, Connor McDavid added three assists and the Oilers beat the Canucks 5-1 on Saturday night to avoid elimination and force a deciding Game 7.

“The boys were ready from the start, we obviously knew what was at stake tonight,” Edmonton forward Dylan Holloway said. “There was probably a bit of nerves, but once we kind of got settled in we played our game and rolled all four lines and got going there and never looked back.”

Dylan Holloway, Zach Hyman and Evander Kane also scored for the Oilers, and Stuart Skinner stopped 14 shots.

“We played faster, we played cleaner, we were better with the puck, better coming through the neutral zone," McDavid said. "We did a great job of getting on top of them on the forecheck and keeping pucks alive.

“Nothing to be satisfied or excited about, we just bought ourselves another day and I would expect the same level of urgency and desperation from our group. I would expect Vancouver to play a better game as well and I would expect it to be a highly-competitive, great Game 7.”

Nils Hoglander scored for Vancouver, which is trying to make it to the Western Conference final for the first time since 2011. Arturs Silovs finished with 22 saves.

“We knew obviously this was going to be a difficult test to win tonight,” Canucks forward Brock Boeser said. “Obviously, they got a couple of goals that obviously sucked and took the wind out of us. I think the belief is in this room.”

Game 7 is Monday night in Vancouver, with the winner advancing to face Dallas in the Western Conference final.

Edmonton started the scoring at 8:18 of the first period as Leon Draisaitl fed it up to Holloway and he danced through the defense before tucking it between Silovs' legs for his third of the playoffs.

“What an unbelievable effort,” Hyman said. “For a guy who came up really for the playoffs to do that, he’s had big moments here, but it’s a huge goal to settle the team down to get us up.”

Draisaitl has picked up at least one point in all 11 playoff games this season.

Less than two minutes later, the Canucks evened it up as Elias Pettersson sent a pass from behind the net out front to Hoglander, who snuck his first of the playoffs past Skinner just past the midpoint of the period.

The Oilers looked to have scored with 1 second remaining in the first on a point shot from Bouchard, but the goal was called off due to McDavid making incidental contact with Silovs.

Edmonton went ahead for good at 7:14 of the second as McDavid spotted Hyman in the slot and his shot deflected and bounced up and over Silovs and into the Vancouver net for his 10th of the playoffs. McDavid came into the game having only recorded one assist in his previous three games combined.

McDavid picked up another assist with 8:40 to play in the second as Bouchard scored his fifth goal and 17th point of the postseason on a long shot from the point. The Oilers' captain became just the 10th player in NHL history to record 20 playoff points in three consecutive seasons with his second assist.

The Oilers made it 4-1 just 3:25 into the third period as McDavid picked up his third assist, sending a backhand pass to a hard-charging Nugent-Hopkins, who scored his third of the playoffs.

Edmonton put the game away with just under 7 minutes left as the draw came back to Kane and he unleashed a wicked wrister for his fourth of the postseason.

Boeser is confident the Canucks can rebound for Game 7.

“I don’t know if it’s necessarily what you dream of as a kid, but it’s definitely an opportunity for our group,” he said. “Obviously, we can play better and we all know that. ... We’ll regroup and look at what we can do better and it’s just going to come down to who wants it more next game.”

Skinner returned in goal for the Oilers after Calvin Pickard started the last two games.

Draisaitl became just the fourth player in NHL history to record 60 assists in 60 playoffs games and the third in league history to get to 100 points — behind Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Vancouver Canucks goalie Arturs Silovs (31) makes a save on Edmonton Oilers' Derek Ryan (10) during the second period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Edmonton Oilers' Stuart Skinner (74) and Evan Bouchard (2) celebrate the team's win over the Vancouver Canucks in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Edmonton Oilers' Mattias Ekholm, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman and Evan Bouchard, from left, celebrate a goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the third period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks goalie Arturs Silovs (31) looks away as Edmonton Oilers celebrate a goal during the third period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks' Elias Pettersson (40) is stopped by Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner (74) as Cody Ceci (5) defends during the third period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Edmonton Oilers celebrate the win over the Vancouver Canucks in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers rough it up during the third period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)