Draisaitl's 2 Goals Power Oilers Past Red Wings in OT
The Edmonton Oilers escaped with a 4-3 overtime victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night, thanks to a pair of goals from Leon Draisaitl. The star forward scored the game-tying goal with just over a minute remaining in regulation and then potted the game-winner in overtime, securing the win for the Oilers.
A Tightly Contested Battle
The game was a back-and-forth affair from the start, with both teams exchanging blows throughout the first two periods. The Red Wings got on the board first with a goal from Dylan Larkin, but the Oilers responded with goals from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman to take a 2-1 lead into the second intermission.
Detroit, however, refused to go away quietly. Pius Suter tied the game early in the second period, and Lucas Raymond put the Red Wings back in front just past the halfway mark.
Draisaitl Shines in the Clutch
The Oilers, trailing 3-2 heading into the third period, faced a difficult task. But with the game on the line, Draisaitl stepped up. He tied the game with a power-play goal at 18:52 of the third period, sending the game to overtime.
Just 3:53 into overtime, Draisaitl once again found the back of the net, this time on a beautiful individual effort. He collected the puck in the offensive zone, skated around a Red Wings defender, and beat Ville Husso with a shot that went bar down.
Oilers Extend Their Winning Streak
The win extended the Oilers' winning streak to three games, while the Red Wings lost their second in a row. Stuart Skinner made 31 saves for the Oilers, while Husso stopped 36 shots for the Red Wings.
The Oilers will look to continue their winning ways on Thursday night when they host the Anaheim Ducks. The Red Wings, meanwhile, will face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday.
Key Takeaways
- Leon Draisaitl continues to be a dominant force for the Oilers. He now has 16 goals and 29 assists on the season, putting him on pace for another monster year.
- The Oilers' power play is clicking. They scored two power-play goals in the game, including the game-tying goal from Draisaitl.
- The Red Wings are a young team still finding their way. Despite a strong showing against the Oilers, they will need to find more consistency if they want to contend in the Atlantic Division.
This game was a testament to the skill and determination of both teams, with Draisaitl emerging as the hero for the Oilers. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see if the Oilers can sustain this level of play and make a deep run in the playoffs.