This is becoming Leon Draisaitl’s Stanley Cup final for the Edmonton Oilers.
The standout German forward has scored the overtime goal in each of their two wins in the championship series rematch against the Florida Panthers, including Thursday night in Game 4 to pull Edmonton even.
He’s just the fifth player in NHL history and first in more than three decades to score twice in overtime in the final.
“He’s as clutch as it gets,” goaltender Calvin Pickard said while sitting next to Draisaitl, who also had a pair of assists for a three-point performance.
“Always scores big goals at big times.”
Draisaitl’s four OT goals this playoffs are the most in a single postseason. John LeClair was the last to score two OT goals in a final for Montreal back in 1993, the last time a Canadian team won the Cup.
Edmonton is two victories away from ending that drought thanks in large part to Draisaitl delivering when it matters most.
Game 4 started with rain and a dreadful start for fans in Edmonton’s Ice District, but it ended with showers of beer as Oilers fans celebrated a wild overtime win in Game 4. Travis McEwan talks to fans about the emotions they experienced.
‘It’s incredible’
“It’s incredible,” longtime teammate Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said. “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.”
It’s also nothing new.
Among modern day players with at least 40 games of playoff experience, only Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux and teammate Connor McDavid have produced at a higher rate at the toughest time of the year to put the puck in the net.
Draisaitl is averaging 1.49 points a game, and this series has been a showcase for him after being far less than 100 per cent a year ago when he and the Oilers lost in the final. All the overtimes aren’t bothering him.
“I feel great,” Draisaitl said. “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 teammates after a 6-1 loss in Game 3 on Monday night, an uncharacteristic effort from the oldest team in the league. He was equally as unpleased after Edmonton fell behind 3-0 in the first period of Game 4.
“We were…
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