Final Heartbreak: Draisaitl's Misfortune Seals Oilers' Fate - "Own Goal" in the Clutch
Draisaitl's personal entrance, dubbed "Owner's Gate," has been secured.
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Under the pressurized gaze of the final buzzer, the Edmonton Oilers, spearheaded by star player Leon Draisaitl, witness their defeat in Game 3 of the NHL playoff quarterfinal clash against the Vegas Golden Knights. The spectators at Rogers Place in Edmonton were anticipating overtime, but Vegas mounted an unexpected and audacious last-ditch effort. Reilly Smith fired from a sharp angle - before it deflected off Draisaitl's stick, finding the net on the brink of regulation time closing out to a heartbreaking 0.4 seconds. The Oilers succumbed 3-4 as Vegas narrowed the series to 1-2.
"We dropped the ball," Draisaitl commented honestly on the team's defensive struggles in the crucial moments leading up to the decisive goal. With utter frustration, he shared his sentiments about the fateful play, "It was just rotten luck, and it was tragic. The puck ricocheted off my stick, and I was mere moments away from averting disaster. Ultimately, it bounced against me."
Last-Minute Goal Magic
A mere 48 hours prior, the Edmonton Oilers claimed a vital win in Game 2 thanks to Draisaitl's game-winning goal in overtime, a twist of fate that gave the team the win. This time around, his contribution to the game would be overshadowed, as Smith was credited with the goal, and "own goal" is not a thing in hockey[1]. To ESPN's records, such a late goal has never been scored during regulation time in NHL playoffs[2][3].
"It's cruel how we lost this one," Draisaitl lamented, having assisted on the goals that made it 1-0 and 3-3. Looking ahead to the future, he remained positive, "Tomorrow offers a fresh start. We're sitting pretty with a 2-1 lead in the series. Our focus for tomorrow evening is to extend that advantage to 3-1, and then we'll set our sights on Vegas." In a separate encounter, the Carolina Hurricanes took a 2-1 series lead over the Washington Capitals, winning 4-0 at home[1].
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[1] ntv.de[2] tno/sid[3] ESPN.com
- Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers experienced a disappointing defeat in Game 3 of the NHL playoff quarterfinal, partially due to an own-goal that deflected off Draisaitl's stick in the final moments of the regulation period.
- In a twist of fate, just 48 hours prior, Draisaitl scored the game-winning goal in overtime to secure a victory for the Oilers in Game 2 against Vegas.
- Despite the heartbreaking loss, Draisaitl maintains a positive outlook, aiming for the Oilers to extend their series lead to 3-1 and eventually triumph over Vegas.
- The Oilers' rivals, the Carolina Hurricanes, currently hold a 2-1 series lead over the Washington Capitals, having won 4-0 at home.
