Dramatic culmination: Draisaitl's "Owners' Gate" secured - Oilers' desperate plea
Hobnob with pals, share the pain, or vent your frustration – whatever tickles your fancy! This recap of the Edmonton Oilers' nail-biting loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3 is here to serve.
In a heart-stopping triumph, the Vegas Golden Knights squeezed past the Edmonton Oilers, Draisaitl included, in a jaw-dropping overtime finish that left the Oil Country faithful stunned. With the clock winding down, an unlikely shot from Reilly Smith met an unexpected recipient – Leon Draisaitl's own stick - and the puck found the back of the net with just 0.4 seconds remaining during regulation time. The final scoreboard read 3-4, leaving the Oilers reeling and the Vegas Knights clutching a slim yet vital 1-2 series edge.
"The O-line didn't hold up," Draisaitl lamented, acknowledging his team's defensive miscues prior to the dreaded own goal. "Then, it was just bad luck - unfortunate. The puck bounced off my stick, and I'm scrambling to keep it out. It's just a boneheaded play."
A Goal for the Ages
Fresh off a Goal of the Year candidate overtime winner in Game 2, Edmonton's prized center took the stage once again – albeit in a more unfortunate light. With the latest goal in NHL playoff history, Draisaitl inadvertently granted center stage to Reilly Smith, who collected the accolades for the final tally. Curiously, the ESPN database reveals no goal has ever been scored later in regulation time throughout the NHL playoffs' history[3].
"It's a miserable way to lose," Draisaitl admitted, keeping his sights on the future and the approaching Game 4: "Tomorrow, we start anew. We're holding a 2-1 advantage. Our goal is to make it 3-1 before we set sail to Vegas." In the evening's subsequent contest, the Carolina Hurricanes silenced the Washington Capitals for a complete 40 minutes, finishing with a resounding 4-0 victory and taking a 2-1 series advantage [3].
Source: ntv.de, tno/sid
- Ice Hockey
- Leon Draisaitl
- Reilly Smith
- NHL Playoffs
Bonus Info:
- The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs witnessed a chaotic moment, marking the latest own goal in NHL playoff history. Leon Draisaitl, an instrumental part in critical plays throughout the series, suffered the consequences of shifting momentum when his own stick deflected Reilly Smith's shot, ultimately resulting in the Oregon Golden Knights' narrow 4-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers [1][2][4].
- In the dramatic final seconds of Game 3, the Oilers' defense faltered, granting Vegas one last shot opportunity from a sharp angle. The ensuing deflection off of Draisaitl's stick caught the goalie off guard and secured the decisive win for Vegas [1][2].
- As the Golden Knights attempted a last-ditch effort, Draisaitl's initial desperate rescue attempt backfired, costing his team the game [1][2].
- Draisaitl's unlucky own goal came two days after his heroic overtime winner in Game 2, proving just how fickle the games of ice hockey can be [3].
In a heart-wrenching twist, Reilly Smith of the Vegas Golden Knights scored the latest own goal in NHL playoff history off Leon Draisaitl's stick in Game 3, sealing the Edmonton Oilers' unfortunate fate with a 4-3 victory [1][2][4]. "It's just a boneheaded play," Draisaitl lamented after the game, acknowledging his unintentional role in the pivotal goal [1][2]. Fans can now only hope for redemption as both teams prepare for Game 4, with the Oilers aiming to reclaim the momentum they had lost [3]. Despite the setback, Draisaitl's performance in the series, including his Goal of the Year candidate overtime winner in Game 2, still stands as a reminder of his significant impact on the team [3].
