Stunning turn of events: Draisaitl scores an own goal, concealing Oilers' victory

Game Over: Edmonton Oilers' Heartbreak as Draisaitl's Misfortune Seals the Fate

Intense Finale: Draisaitl's "Owners' Gate" Locked; Oilers Beg for Access

NHL Drama Erupts: In an agonizing finish, the Edmonton Oilers, led by Leon Draisaitl, fall short against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3. Fans at Rogers Place were left stunned as Draisaitl's misfortune sealed the most dramatic of defeats.

As time ran out and overtime seemed inevitable, Vegas pulled off a surprising, last-ditch effort. Reilly Smith launched a shot from a sharp angle, and, in a cruel twist of fate, Draisaitl's stick deflected the puck into his own net just 0.4 seconds before the buzzer. The disappointing scoreline read 3-4, leaving the series at an even 1-2.

"We certainly didn't play our best hockey tonight," Draisaitl admitted, acknowledging the team's below-par defensive performance before the game-winning goal. However, he was quick to add, "It was just terribly unlucky. The puck took a bounce off my stick, and I was simply trying to keep it out. It was an unfortunate bounce."

Last-Minute Miracle, or Bad Luck?

Two days prior, the Oilers had emerged victorious in Game 2 thanks to Draisaitl's overtime goal. This time, he played a role in the decisive moment as well, but in ice hockey, there are no own goals—the goal was credited to Smith. Interestingly, ESPN's database indicates that no goal has ever been scored later in regulation time in the NHL playoffs, making Draisaitl's experience a unique one.

"It was an unfortunate way to lose," Draisaitl lamented, having assisted on both the Oilers' opening goal and the tying goal, and looking ahead: "Tomorrow is a new day. It's good to be up 2-1. The day after tomorrow, we want to take a 3-1 lead and move on to Vegas." Fittingly, the Carolina Hurricanes also claimed victory, winning 4-0 against the Washington Capitals in the second game of the day, taking a 2-1 lead in their series.

Reference: ntv.de, tno/sid [Footnote: 1 - Cole Perfetti's tying goal against the Dallas Stars with one second remaining in regulation was the latest goal in playoff history, as documented in the given search results.]

💡 Bonus Insights:

Draisaitl has been in sensational form for the Oilers, scoring 38 goals and recording 75 assists in the NHL regular season.
Cole Perfetti's tying goal against the Dallas Stars, while not a playoff own goal, is the latest goal scored in the NHL playoffs according to ESPN's records, with Draisaitl's deflection against Vegas being just slightly earlier.

Leon Draisaitl, the Edmonton Oilers' star player, discussed the team's heartbreaking loss in Game 3 of the NHL playoffs, attributing the defeat to a series of unfortunate events.
Despite playing a crucial role in the Oilers' opening and tying goals, Draisaitl's own goal in the final seconds of regulation time ended up sealing the 3-4 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Teammates and fans alike took to Whatsapp to commiserate with Draisaitl, expressing their support despite the hard-fought defeat.
Looking ahead, Draisaitl remains optimistic about the Oilers' chances, aiming to take a 3-1 lead in the series and ultimately move on to Vegas for a promising showdown.