Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

'Another level': Draisaitl scores 2, Oilers tie series

Written by 
Published in Hockey
Saturday, 06 May 2023 23:07

LAS VEGAS -- Leon Draisaitl's two goals Saturday did more than just help pace the Edmonton Oilers' commanding 5-1 victory against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of the Western Conference quarterfinals.

Draisaitl's performance was one of the primary reasons the Oilers departed the desert with a tied series -- and momentum -- entering Game 3 on Monday at Rogers Place in Edmonton. Those two goals are also responsible for starting a conversation about how the Oilers superstar center could be in position to own one of the most historic individual postseason efforts in NHL history.

The conversation in question? Could Draisaitl break the record for the most goals in a single postseason? The mark is shared by Reggie Leach and Hall of Fame forward Jari Kurri.

Leach scored 19 goals in 16 games with the Philadelphia Flyers during the 1975-76 playoffs, while Kurri tied the record with 19 goals in 18 games with the Oilers in the 1984-85 playoffs.

As for Draisaitl, the 2020 Hart Memorial Trophy winner already has 13 goals through eight games.

"You just get ready for the next one," said Draisaitl, when asked about the record. "I think it's a cliché and everyone will say it, but that's just the way it is. That's the way we work. That's the way every player in this league works. You do your part and try to do it as good as you can every night. You move on and get ready for Game 3."

Draisaitl's run started when he scored seven goals in a six-game first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings. He continued by scoring all four of the Oilers' goals in a 6-4 defeat to the Golden Knights in Game 1 on Wednesday.

How he scored two goals Saturday was a representation of the strategy the Oilers applied to tie the series. It was also a contrast from what happened in Game 1, in which the Golden Knights used an aggressive forecheck to limit scoring chances in part by taking away time and space.

Edmonton was immediately aggressive in the first period by drawing what would be its first of six power-play chances, which Draisaitl converted for a 1-0 lead less than three minutes into the game. Less than five minutes later, defenseman Evan Bouchard scored another power-play goal to double the lead.

Vegas was on the power play when Oilers superstar Connor McDavid created a turnover, grabbed possession and held off a defender with one arm before using the other to poke the puck past Golden Knights goaltender Laurent Brossoit for a short-handed goal and a 3-0 lead.

Draisaitl cemented the Oilers' first period with another goal with less than four minutes left in the first for a 4-0 lead.

"At this point, nothing surprises me about what he does," Bouchard said of Draisaitl's two-goal game. "He had another two tonight. What is that? 13, right? In eight games, it's something that doesn't happen very often."

What the Oilers did in the first period was another reminder of what they did in the regular season and in the first round of the playoffs: convert on the power play and, when possible, control possession. They finished the regular season leading the NHL with a 32.4% success rate on the power play while their shot-share saw them own possession 52.27% of the time in 5-on-5 play, according to Natural Stat Trick.

The Oilers finished the first period with a shot-share of more than 69% in addition to converting 50% of their power-play chances. As it relates to the postseason, the Oilers are now fourth in shot-share percentage at 52.35% while their power play continues to leave opponents searching for answers as they lead the league with a 56% success rate.

"They had the puck, they held onto it, and they were strong on it," Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. "Cutbacks, you name it. The [offensive] zone support above the goal line, all those things. Stuff we didn't do well enough to tilt the game back in our favor. We weren't hard on the puck."

A three-time 50-goal scorer, Draisaitl scored 52 in the regular season to further reinforce his place as one of the game's premier players and most dangerous scorers.

Last year, he scored seven postseason goals but was still second in the NHL with 32 points in 16 games. Those contributions helped the Oilers advance to the Western Conference finals, where they were eliminated by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche.

What Draisaitl did a year ago created the expectations that he could be in line for another significant postseason push this year.

He ended Saturday leading the Stanley Cup playoffs in goals, points, points per game, even-strength goals and power-play goals. His 13 goals also mean Draisaitl is now two goals shy of equaling the number of goals that the Minnesota Wild and Winnipeg Jets each scored before they were eliminated in the first round.

Then there's this bit of context: Draisaitl is six goals shy of scoring more goals in this postseason than he had in his previous postseasons combined.

"Obviously, he's playing on another level," McDavid said. "I'm not sure why anyone would be surprised at this point because he's the best player in the world a lot of nights. He's showing that on a regular basis. Like he talked about, we're here for a lot more than just scoring goals and putting up points. That's not what it's about at all. That's not what we're doing here. It's just part of the piece."

Read 106 times

Soccer

Xavi: Girona loss tells the story of our season

Xavi: Girona loss tells the story of our season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsXavi Hernández said Saturday's crushing 4-2 defeat at Girona was em...

Should he stay or go? The case for, against Erik ten Hag at Man United

Should he stay or go? The case for, against Erik ten Hag at Man United

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsErik ten Hag in, or Erik ten Hag out? Manchester United fans are ei...

Girona beat Barça, qualify for UCL for first time

Girona beat Barça, qualify for UCL for first time

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsGirona have qualified for the Champions League for the first time i...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Former Laker Morris dies at 33, family announces

Former Laker Morris dies at 33, family announces

EmailPrintFormer Michigan standout and Los Angeles Lakers draft pick Darius Morris has died at 33, h...

Sources: Ball picks up $21.4M option with Bulls

Sources: Ball picks up $21.4M option with Bulls

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsAfter missing the past two-plus seasons with a knee injury, Chicago...

Baseball

Judge: First ejection of career 'very surprising'

Judge: First ejection of career 'very surprising'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Aaron Judge has accomplished plenty during his nine-yea...

Cubs' Bellinger, Suzuki could return next week

Cubs' Bellinger, Suzuki could return next week

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCHICAGO -- The Cubs are inching closer to getting two of their bett...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated