Draisaitl and Oilers equalize in Dallas
Ice hockey star Leon Draisaitl and his Edmonton Oilers conceded the equalizer in the second semi-final game in the North American professional league NHL. In the Texan duel against the Dallas Stars, the Oilers had to admit defeat with 1:3 and go into the third match on Monday in Edmonton with a 1:1 interim score.
Draisaitl also had a personal streak broken on Saturday evening. After 13 play-off games with at least one point in each, the Cologne player came away empty-handed for the first time. After Dallas took the lead through Jamie Benn (4th), Connor Brown equalized almost immediately for the Oilers (5th). But in the final third, Mason Marchment (44th) and Esa Lindell (58th) made everything clear for the Stars. Goalkeeper Jake Oettinger also saved 28 shots from the Oilers.
Edmonton last reached the conference finals in 2022, but was clearly defeated by eventual champion Colorado Avalanche (0:4). This time things should be different. “It will be a close story, but we feel comfortable in these games,” said captain Connor McDavid.
In the second semi-final, the score between the New York Rangers and the Florida Panthers is also 1:1. Game three will take place on Sunday evening in Sunrise, Florida.
NBA: Boston close to reaching the finals
Record champions Boston Celtics are close to reaching the finals of the North American professional basketball league NBA, thanks in part to the outstanding performance of Jayson Tatum. The forward narrowly missed the triple-double with 36 points, ten rebounds and eight assists, but was the guarantor of the 114:111 victory in the third semi-final against the Indiana Pacers. With the playoff score at 3:0, the Celtics only need one more win to advance. Game four will take place on Monday evening in Indianapolis.
Boston demonstrated comeback qualities on Saturday evening. The team from Massachusetts was already 18 points behind in the middle of the third quarter, but slowly worked its way back. With a 13-2 run in the last three minutes, the guests turned the game around and remain unbeaten away in this year’s playoffs.
Other pillars for the winners were Jaylen Brown and Al Horford with 24 and 23 points respectively. “We have a hell of a team,” said Brown after the triumph. Tyrese Haliburton was once again sorely missed for the Pacers. The All-Star guard was absent due to a thigh injury.
In the second semi-final, the Dallas Mavericks, led by Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic, are leading 2-0 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Texans can therefore make it clear in the next two home games.
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