The Heartbreaking End: How a Final-Moment Fluke Crushed the Edmonton Oilers - Leon Draisaitl's Own Goal Fails to Save Game 3
Intense Closure: Draisaitl's "Proprietor's Entrance" Barred – Deep Lament from Oilers
Share on Facebook Tweet this WhatsApp this Email this Print this Copy link 💔 A gut-wrenching loss for the NHL: With the final seconds ticking away, the Edmonton Oilers, spearheaded by standout Leon Draisaitl, succumb in Game 3 of their series against the Vegas Golden Knights. In a cruel twist of fate, Draisaitl's luck runs out at the wrong moment.
Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers experienced a heart-stopping defeat in Game 3 of the NHL playoff quarterfinal series against the Vegas Golden Knights. Time was running out, the packed crowd at Rogers Place in Edmonton was bracing for overtime, when Vegas made a desperation play. Reilly Smith unleashed a shot from an impossible angle – and, deflected off Draisaitl's stick, the puck skimmedinto the net just 0.4 seconds before the final horn. The Oilers lost 3-4, with Vegas narrowing the series to 1-2.
"We messed up," Draisaitl acknowledged the team's defensive blunder leading to the decisive goal, and then elaborated on his unlucky intervention: "Then it was just a bad break, it was more unfortunate. The puck hits my stick and I'm just trying to keep it out of the net. It was just a fluke."
The Latest Regulation-Time Stunner in Playoff History
Two days earlier, Edmonton claimed Game 2 with Draisaitl's overtime winner, but this time he was on the receiving end of a surprising twist in the heated world of ice hockey. If own goals were counted, it would've been recorded as one, but according to standard rules, the goal was credited to Vegas' Reilly Smith. As per ESPN's records, there's no precedent of a goal scored later in regulation time in NHL playoffs.
"It's a tough way to lose," Draisaitl said, having contributed to the Oilers' 1-0 and 3-3 scores, and focusing on the team's future: "Tomorrow offers new chances. It's good to be up 2-1. We're looking to extend the lead to 3-1 [Wednesday], then we'll take on Vegas." Meanwhile in another game of the day, the Carolina Hurricanes shutout the Washington Capitals at home with a dominating 4-0 score and took a 2-1 lead in their series.
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Note: Despite Draisaitl's unfortunate own goal claim in the eyes of critics, there is no record of Leon Draisaitl actually scoring an own goal that secured the Edmonton Oilers' loss against the Vegas Golden Knights in the latest NHL playoff history. The late game-winning goal was truly credited to Reilly Smith of the Vegas Golden Knights, who managed to bank the puck off Draisaitl's stick within 0.4 seconds of regulation time. Nonetheless, Leon Draisaitl has shown his skills in previous series throughout his career, including scoring his first career playoff overtime goal.
- In a heart-stopping moment, Leon Draisaitl's own goal, deflected off his stick in the final seconds, sealed the Edmonton Oilers' defeat in Game 3 of the NHL playoff quarterfinal series against the Vegas Golden Knights.
- Despite the unlucky own goal, Leon Draisaitl was instrumental in the Oilers' 1-0 and 3-3 scores during the game.
- Meanwhile, in another NHL game, the Carolina Hurricanes shut out the Washington Capitals at home with a dominating 4-0 score, taking a 2-1 lead in their series.
- ESPN's records show that there's no precedent of a goal scored later in regulation time in the history of NHL playoffs.
- Despite the controversy surrounding his own goal claim, Leon Draisaitl has demonstrated his skills in previous series throughout his ice hockey career, including scoring his first career playoff overtime goal.
