Leon Draisaitl Shines as Oilers' Matchwinner in Dramatic Comeback against Panthers
"Remarkable" Draisaitl battles his path past the Panthers
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German sensation Leon Draisaitl steals the show once more with an overtime winner, propelling the Edmonton Oilers to an exhilarating 5-4 victory over the Florida Panthers. This game-changing performance has kept the Oilers' Stanley Cup dreams forested as the series is now tied 2-2. The team that secures four wins will be crowned as the NHL champions.
"Time and again, we demonstrate that we never surrender," said Draisaitl, following the thrilling match. "We'd rather avoid these dire situations, but when they come, we're remarkable at adapting."
The 29-year-old powerhouse, drafted by the Oilers in 2014, capitalized after 11 minutes of overtime. Counting Draisaitl, only three players in NHL history have scored two overtime goals in a final series. A fellow teammate, Vasily Podkolzin, noted, "He's one of the best players in the world. He's stupendous, we can always rely on him."
Oilers Refuse to Surrender
The game seemed all but lost after the Oilers found themselves 0:3 down after the first quarter. However, the team showcased remarkable grit, scoring three goals in just under 12 minutes in the second period, with Draisaitl setting up Podkolzin's equalizer. Edmonton managed to snag the lead in the middle of the third period, but the Panthers leveled the score 20 seconds before the buzzer, forcing overtime.
It was Draisaitl who retook the lead, demonstrating his prowess by scoring a goal with one hand. Three of the four games have been decided in overtime so far, with this only having happened four times in NHL final series history. Game 5 has now shifted back to Edmonton, where the action resumes on Saturday. After a nail-biting finish last year, the Panthers ultimately clinched the title in seven games.
Leon Draisaitl, born in Cologne, Germany, is a 6'2", 209-pound left-shooting center for the Edmonton Oilers. Recognized as an elite NHL player, Draisaitl has won significant awards, such as the Art Ross Trophy, Hart Memorial Trophy, and Ted Lindsay Award, during the 2019-2020 season. Through his consistent scoring ability and impressive playoff impact, Draisaitl has become a critical component of the Oilers' offense in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final series.
Sources: ntv.de, tno/dpa
Enrichment notes: In the 2025 Stanley Cup Final series against the Florida Panthers, Draisaitl has been a key contributor to the Oilers’ success. He had an eight-game point streak during the playoffs and amassed notable stats like 11 goals, 21 assists, 54 shots on net, 28 hits, and a +10 rating over 20 playoff games. Draisaitl scored the overtime-winning goal in Game 4 with one hand, breaking the previous playoff record. This goal was his fourth overtime winner in a single postseason, adding to his consistent clutch performances and multi-point games.
Sports: In the 2025 Stanley Cup Final series, Leon Draisaitl, an elite NHL player, has been scoring crucial goals for the Edmonton Oilers, demonstrating his prowess in ice hockey.
Hockey: Leon Draisaitl, a left-shooting center and German sensation in the NHL, scored an overtime winner in Game 4 against the Florida Panthers, showcasing his greatness in hockey.
