Leon Draisaitl’s Overtime Heroics Propel Oilers Past Flames
EDMONTON, Alberta — In a thrilling display of skill and determination, Leon Draisaitl once again proved why he is one of the most formidable players in the NHL. On Saturday night, Draisaitl reached a significant milestone by scoring his 50th goal of the season, marking the fourth time in his illustrious career that he has achieved this feat. But he didn’t stop there. Draisaitl went on to score his 51st goal in overtime, leading the Edmonton Oilers to a hard-fought 3-2 victory over their fierce rivals, the Calgary Flames.
The atmosphere at Rogers Place was electric as fans witnessed Draisaitl become the first player in the NHL this season to reach the 50-goal mark. His 51st goal, scored just 2:25 into overtime, was the icing on the cake for the Oilers, who managed to snap a two-game losing streak in front of their home crowd.
After the game, Draisaitl expressed his gratitude for the support he receives from his teammates and the organization. “I have been feeling good all year,” he shared during his postgame interview on SportsNet. “I’ve got some great players, great people around me that let me do my job, and let me take care of that.”
It wasn’t just Draisaitl who shone on the ice that night. Viktor Arvidsson also found the back of the net for Edmonton, while Darnell Nurse contributed with two assists. The Oilers were missing some key players, including star forward Connor McDavid, veteran defenseman Mattias Ekholm, and goaltender Stuart Skinner, making the victory even more impressive.
In the absence of Skinner, Calvin Pickard stepped up to the challenge, making 26 saves and securing the win for Edmonton. This victory was crucial for the Oilers as it allowed them to move into a tie with the Los Angeles Kings for second place in the Pacific Division. With the playoffs just around the corner, the Oilers and Kings are likely to face off in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs next month.
Saturday’s game was all about Draisaitl, who reached the 50-goal milestone at the 16:48 mark of the third period, thanks to assists from Evan Bouchard and Nurse. Reflecting on his achievement, Draisaitl humbly remarked, “Obviously, I was fortunate it went in. I’ll take it.”
With this latest accomplishment, Draisaitl has now tied with Edmonton legend Jari Kurri for the second most 50-goal seasons in Oilers franchise history, trailing only the great Wayne Gretzky, who holds the record with eight such seasons.
- Leon Draisaitl scores 50th and 51st goals of the season.
- Edmonton Oilers defeat Calgary Flames 3-2 in overtime.
- Oilers tie with Los Angeles Kings for second place in the Pacific Division.
- Draisaitl ties Jari Kurri for second most 50-goal seasons in Oilers history.
As the regular season winds down, all eyes will be on Draisaitl and the Oilers as they prepare for what promises to be an exciting playoff run. With Draisaitl in top form and the team rallying around him, Edmonton fans have every reason to be optimistic about their chances in the postseason.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
