Leon Draisaitl keeps leaving it late. That’s working out just fine for the Oilers.
The big centre’s overtime goal Thursday — his record-setting fourth extra-time winner this spring — pushed Edmonton past Florida 5-4 to even the Stanley Cup final at two games apiece.
Draisaitl’s breakthrough against Panthers netminder Sergei Bobrovsky on an attempted pass that glanced in off defenceman Niko Mikkola came after the Oilers battled back from a 3-0 first-period deficit before recovering from a blown 4-3 lead late.
“Our group never quits,” Draisaitl said after registering a goal and two assists. “We believe that no matter how bad it is, if we get over that hump of adversity, we’re going to keep pushing, we’re going to keep coming … and eventually it’ll break.
“You don’t want to be in these situations too many times, but when they happen, I think we’re great at it.”
Draisaitl has been great for quite some time.
The 29-year-old German now has 11 goals and 21 assists for 32 points in 20 playoff games this spring. He’s the fifth player in NHL history to record 30 points in consecutive post-seasons — Draisaitl had 31 across 25 contests in 2024 — joining teammate Connor McDavid (2024-2025), Nikita Kucherov (2020-2021), Mario Lemieux (1991-1992) and Wayne Gretzky (1987-1988, 1983-1985).
“He’s as clutch as it gets,” said Edmonton netminder Calvin Pickard, who finished with 22 saves after replacing Stuart Skinner to start the second period following that ugly opening.
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“He’s been playing great, always scores big goals at big times.”
The Oilers, meanwhile, became just the second road team in NHL history — joining the 1919 Montreal Canadiens — to win a Cup final game after trailing by three or more goals at the end of the first period.
Draisaitl, according to his teammates, was one of the locker-room leaders to stand up and speak up after Monday’s brutal 6-1 loss in Game 3 that put the Oilers down in the series 2-1.
“One of the best players in the world for a reason,” Edmonton defenceman Darnell Nurse said. “He not only says what he’s going to do, he backs it up with his play and his actions. That’s what makes him an amazing leader. We get into overtime, those tense moments, and he has an ability to relax in them and just make plays. He gets rewarded for working hard.”
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