Thanks to a brace from Leon Draisaitl, the Edmonton Oilers reached the second round of the NHL playoffs and beat the Los Angeles Kings. The national ice hockey player scored the goals to make it 2:2 and 3:2 in the 4:3 and played a significant role in his team’s progress.
They were goals four and five in the playoff series against the Kings, against whom the Oilers had already prevailed in the first round in the previous two years. It is still unclear who the team will face in the quarterfinals on the way to the Stanley Cup. In the series between the Vancouver Canucks and the Nashville Predators, Vancouver leads 3-2 after victories.
Draisaitl: “We are more mature”
“We are probably a better team than we were last year or the year before that. We are more mature, which sometimes plays an important role,” said Draisaitl. The 28-year-old Cologne native explained that, unlike in previous years, there were no punishments for indiscipline.
A few more days of break due to the early end of the series after just five games are very important in the long term. “Our goal is to play for a very long time,” emphasized Draisaitl. “We have a few more days to rest, which is really nice.” The Oilers now save themselves another trip to Los Angeles.
Previously, the Dallas Stars won 3-2 against the Vegas Golden Knights and took a 3-2 lead in the series. The win in Texas was the first home win for either team in the first round of the playoffs this season. With success in Las Vegas, the stars can make it through to the defending champions.
