The Edmonton Oilers announced that Leon Draisaitl has become the driving force behind their Stanley Cup Final comeback against the Florida Panthers. The German forward scored his second overtime winner of the series Thursday night in Game 4, tying the championship series at two games apiece.
Draisaitl joins just four other players in NHL history to score twice in overtime during a Stanley Cup Final. He’s the first to accomplish this feat in more than 30 years.
“He’s as clutch as it gets. Always scores big goals at big times.”
goaltender Calvin Pickard said while sitting next to Draisaitl, who also recorded two assists for a three-point performance.
The 28-year-old forward now holds the record for most overtime goals in a single postseason with four. John LeClair was the last player to score two overtime goals in a Stanley Cup Final, doing so for Montreal in 1993.
That was the last time a Canadian team won the Cup.
Edmonton sits two victories away from ending that 31-year drought, with Draisaitl leading the charge when games are on the line.
“It’s incredible. He’s a horse out there for us — just always. It’s just constant. It’s consistent. We always can lean on him, and he always finds a way to get those big ones,”
longtime teammate Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said.
Among modern players with at least 40 playoff games, only Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux plus teammate Connor McDavid have produced at a higher rate during the postseason. Draisaitl is averaging 1.49 points per game these playoffs.
This series has become a showcase for the forward after he played through injuries during last year’s Cup Final loss.
Despite the extended overtime play, Draisaitl isn’t concerned about fatigue.
“I feel great. It’s a long season, of course, for either side. We’ve played the same amount of minutes in this series. Fatigue kicks in at some point, but your adrenaline usually takes over and you just chip away at it, chip away at it.”
Draisaitl addressed his teammates after Edmonton’s 6-1 loss in Game 3 Monday night. The defeat was an uncharacteristic effort from the league’s oldest team. He was equally displeased after the Oilers fell behind 3-0 in Game 4’s first period.
“We were kind of lollygagging around a little bit. It’s certainly not the time to lollygag around, especially after getting spanked in Game 3.”
The Oilers rallied to tie the game, took the lead, then surrendered the tying goal with 19.5 seconds remaining in regulation. That set up Draisaitl’s heroics in the extra frame.
“He not only says what he’s going to do, he backs it up with his play and his actions. That’s what makes him an amazing leader. We get into overtime, those tense moments and he has an ability to relax in them and just make plays. He gets rewarded for working hard,”
defenseman Darnell Nurse said.
Draisaitl called his winning goal “a fortunate bounce — no secret about it.”
With Florida focusing their defensive efforts on stopping McDavid, Draisaitl has taken over almost every time he’s on the ice.
“Leon, I don’t know what could be said that really conveys what he brings to our team — not only the leadership but the the play. He has just elevated his game in the toughest moments,”
coach Kris Knoblauch said.
Draisaitl is making his case for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. McDavid won the award last year despite Edmonton’s Cup Final loss and refused to leave the locker room to accept it. Draisaitl pulled even with McDavid as the betting favorite on BetMGM Sportsbook after Thursday’s overtime goal.
Both players are tied for the postseason scoring lead with 32 points.
Asked how Draisaitl seems automatic in overtime and clutch situations, teammate Vasily Podkolzin kept it simple:
“Because he’s one of the best players in the world. That’s why.”
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