Decisive nail-biter
Draisaitl’s Oilers save themselves into the semifinals in the playoff thriller
May 21, 2024, 6:13 a.m
Germany’s ice hockey superstar Leon Draisaitl is taking the next step towards the first Stanley Cup triumph of his career: the striker wins an exciting playoff series with his Edmonton Oilers and is in the semi-finals.
For Leon Draisaitl and his Edmonton Oilers, the dream of the Stanley Cup lives on: The German ice hockey star reached the semi-finals with the Canadians in the NHL play-offs. In the decisive seventh game of the quarter-final series against the Vancouver Canucks, the Oilers deservedly won 3-2 and will now face the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference final.
Draisaitl prepared Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ third goal (36th) in Vancouver and increased his overall play-off score to 101 points. The Cologne player has scored or assisted at least one goal in every playoff game this season. Edmonton scored all of its goals in the second period, with Cody Ceci (22′) and Zach Hyman (26′) laying the foundation. But the Canucks, who had to do without their playoff top scorer Brock Boeser, turned it up a notch and ensured a thrilling final phase. Conor Garland (52nd) and Filip Hronek (56th) gave the hosts hope again, but the Oilers saved their lead over time.
The Oilers, who had started the season terribly and had to fear for a long time about participating in the playoffs, turned a 3-3 deficit in the series into a victory. It was only at the weekend that Draisaitl and Co. secured the final for the semi-finals with a brilliant 5-1 win.
Game one against the Stars will take place on Friday night in Dallas. Edmonton last reached the Conference Final in 2022, but was clearly defeated by eventual champions Colorado Avalanche (0-4) with four defeats in four games.