HIGHLIGHTS
- Leon Draisaitl scored with 31 seconds left in OT to give the Oilers a 4-3 Game 1 victory
- The German forward tied an NHL record with his third overtime goal of these playoffs
- Watch video of the OT goal and read analysis below
Leon Draisaitl continues to be Mr. Clutch for the Edmonton Oilers.
The German superstar buried a power-play one-timer with just 31 seconds left in overtime, stunning the Florida Panthers 4-3 in Game 1 of their Stanley Cup Final rematch at Rogers Place on Wednesday night.
The goal was Draisaitl’s third overtime winner of these playoffs, tying an NHL record for a single postseason. He’s now got two goals on the board after going scoreless in all seven games against Florida last year.
Connor McDavid found Draisaitl with a perfect setup from behind the net after Florida’s Tomas Nosek took a costly delay of game penalty late in the extra frame. The Oilers’ dynamic duo made them pay immediately.
Video:
This wasn’t just another win for Edmonton. The Panthers came in with an incredible 31-0 record when leading after the first or second period under coach Paul Maurice. Make that 31-1 now.
Draisaitl actually got the party started early, scoring just 66 seconds into the game. But Florida roared back with three straight goals, including two from Sam Bennett, to take a 3-1 lead early in the second period.
The Oilers showed why they’ve been the comeback kings of these playoffs. Viktor Arvidsson cut it to 3-2 late in the second, then Mattias Ekholm tied it up at 6:33 of the third with McDavid picking up another helper.
Stuart Skinner was rock solid after that early flurry, stopping 24 straight shots, including 16 in the second period alone. The 25-year-old netminder finished with 29 saves.
Sergei Bobrovsky was brilliant at the other end with 42 stops, but couldn’t get across in time on Draisaitl’s overtime blast.
The Oilers have now won seven comeback games this postseason, leading all teams. They’ve also tied a franchise record with their third multi-goal comeback win of these playoffs.
Game 2 goes Friday night back at Rogers Place. If Draisaitl keeps this up, Canada might finally see that Stanley Cup drought come to an end.
