The Edmonton Oilers made a statement in the race for spots in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, defeating Pacific Division leaders Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 Saturday night away at the T-Mobile Arena. Man of the day was the German superstar Leon Draisaitlwho was able to extend his goal streak to three games with a brace.
Video: EDM 4, VGK 3
Season goals number 25 and 26 for Draisaitl
Draisaitl is the face of the Oilers’ upswing: the 27-year-old has contributed to Cologne in all three games Edmonton have won in a row. During this period, the center scored four goals and six points (4-2–6).
In general, Draisaitl is having a strong January with five goals in his last six games after failing to score in seven straight games. “I feel better,” said the German center forward. “I was a little frustrated that I wasn’t hitting those areas that I wanted to hit. But sometimes that’s what happens. Sometimes the shots go in, sometimes they don’t. I’ll continue to pick a target and just shoot.”
In Vegas, Draisaitl scored his number 25 and 26 goals of the season. After Matthias Janmark the Oilers had put them ahead after just 45 seconds (1st), Draisaitl made it 2-0 102 seconds after the start: he himself intercepted a build-up pass from the Golden Knights at the opposing blue line and played a one-two Zach Hymanthen sat Connor McDavid into the scene and, on his shot, dusted into the half-empty goal (2nd).
Video: EDM@VGK: Draisaitl’s 2-goal game
“We had already played the day before (7-1 away win at the San Jose Sharks, ed.) and they wanted to put us under direct pressure. We dealt with it really well,” said Draisaitl. “It’s always easier when you can play with a lead. Lately we’ve always been there from the start.”
At the beginning of the second third, the man from Cologne picked up a free-pressed disc at the level of his own blue line and started forward. In a 2-on-1 situation, the left-hand shooter delayed for a long time and sold a cross pass to the one who ran with him Darnell Nursebut then hit the left corner himself to make it 3-1 (28th).
“We’re just finding our game, our identity. Our players put themselves in a position where they can play most successfully. That took a while,” said Draisaitl. “It was another good performance. I think we’ve played good hockey lately. That’s exactly how we have to continue.”
Goalie and Depth: The Oilers’ Recipe for Success
In the final third in particular, Edmonton also showed a development on the defensive: goalkeeping Jack Campbell (27 saves, 90 percent catch rate) and his front men defended a 4:3 lead at the second break over time.
“It’s always difficult to play here. The momentum here is more directional than in other arenas. But we played a really good third third. Soupy held up really well again. That’s the recipe for success,” explained Draisaitl and also emphasized the contributions of his fellow strikers: “If you look at our two wins before, you could see that all four rows played well. If all four rows get rolling, then you have a good chance of one Victory. We played against a good team today, but we’re a good team too.
Klim Kostin (1-0-1) scored the fourth Oilers goal of the night. Zach Hyman (0-2-2) served twice, Janmark (1-1-2) scored again against one of his former clubs (four goals this season against the Vegas Golden Knights, Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars) and also superstar McDavid (0 -1-1, eight shots on target) contributed an assist. In defense Nurse and blocked Cody This three shots each.
“It was a really competitive and fun game of hockey,” said Edmonton’s coach Jay Woodcroft. “There were also a few moments in defense that we would have liked to have played differently. But for the most part we controlled the game. Each of our 11 forwards contributed something, and the seven defenders also played the game in different ways influenced. That’s an attitude that our team has internalized.”
Head-to-head races in the Pacific Division
With three straight wins, the Oilers are among the five hottest teams in the league behind the Seattle Kraken (eight straight wins) and the New Jersey Devils (four) and tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Philadelphia Flyers (three each).
[Ähnliches Siebter Streich der Kraken in Folge]
That upswing allowed Edmonton (24-18-3) to secure their second wildcard spot in the Western Conference (six points ahead of the Colorado Avalanche) while catching up with their Pacific Division rival, arch-rival Calgary Flames (21-14-9) is even within striking distance.
In the next home game, the Oilers can further reduce the gap to the second-placed Kraken (26-12-4) in a direct duel.