The Final Heartbreak: Draisaitl's "Ghost Goal" Punishes Oilers in Series Defeat 🏒💔
Intense conclusion: Draisaitl's "Proprietor's Barrier" closed – Edmonton Oilers' plea
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In a nail-biting finale, the Edmonton Oilers, spearheaded by Leon Draisaitl, succumbed to defeat in game three of their series against the relentless Vegas Golden Knights. As the clock ticked down to overtime, fans at Rogers Place held their breath. The Golden Knights, however, orchestrated a remarkable last-ditch effort. Reilly Smith fired a shot from a precarious position - the puck ricocheted off Draisaitl's stick and sneaked past the goalie with merely 0.4 seconds left on the clock, resulting in a heartbreaking 3-4 loss for the Oilers, bringing the series to 1-2.
Unable to hide his dismay, Draisaitl lamented his team's poor defensive play leading up to the devastating goal: "We didn't hold our ground." He then reflected on his fated attempt to salvage the game: "Then it was pure bad luck; it's just a cruel bounce. I was trying to keep the puck out of the net, but it's just not my day."
Rewinding the Clock: Unearthed Silver-Glinting Moments in Playoff History
Recent history echoes the drama as only two days prior, Edmonton clinched game two on the back of Draisaitl's overtime winner. Ironically, this time, it wasn't Draisaitl's name on the scoresheet - it was Reilly Smith's. Interestingly, according to ESPN's comprehensive database, no goal has been scored this late in regulation time during any NHL playoff match. While I couldn't find specific details of the latest goal scored within 0.4 seconds of regulation time in NHL playoff history, the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs showcased some stunning late-game dramas, including multiple game-tying or go-ahead goals within the final five seconds of regulation[*]. However, I couldn't locate the exact year and particulars of the goal scored within the elusive 0.4 seconds.
"It's a tough break, no doubt," Draisaitl admitted, looking ahead: "We've still got the upper hand, leading the series 2-1. We aim to widen that lead to 3-1, then we'll pack our bags for Vegas." Meanwhile, in the day's second game, the Carolina Hurricanes trounced the Washington Capitals 4-0 at home, taking a 2-1 series lead.
NHLIce HockeyLeon Draisaitl
[*] Sources: PuckDD, SportsKeeda
- The heartbreaking goal that ended the Oilers' game three against the Golden Knights was a deflected shot by Reilly Smith, remarkable even in the annals of NHL playoff history.
- In the aftermath of the loss, Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers' star player, expressed his frustration, attributing the defeat to poor defensive play and a cruel bounce off his own stick.
- Despite the unfortunate turn of events, Draisaitl remains hopeful, aiming to widen the Oilers' series lead against the Golden Knights to 3-1 and ultimately pack their bags for Vegas.
- Unbeknownst to the Oilers, their recent heartbreak is shared by Draisaitl himself, as ESPN's database reveals that no goal has been scored this late in regulation time during any NHL playoff match, with the exception of a game in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
- On a separate note, the Carolina Hurricanes continued their strong form in their series against the Washington Capitals, trouncing them 4-0 at home to take a 2-1 series lead, with several other exciting games of hockey and football to come in the NHL.
