The Edmonton Oilers and German ice hockey star Leon Draisaitl are facing an early knockout in the North American NHL play-off final. The team also lost game three 3:4 against the Florida Panthers and is now 0:3 behind in the series. Four wins are needed to win the Stanley Cup.
The Oilers’ first home game in the final series began with an offensive exchange of blows and chances on both sides. After Edmonton’s exceptional strikers Draisaitl and Connor McDavid missed the best opportunities in the power play, the goal was scored on the other side: Sam Reinhart deflected a shot from Gustav Forsling into the goal (19th).
In the second period, Edmonton increased the pressure and deservedly equalized through Warren Foegele (22nd minute). However, the hosts then missed too many chances or were thwarted by the strong Florida goalie Sergei Bobrowski. The Panthers, on the other hand, took full advantage of the Oilers’ mistakes and increased their lead to 4-1 within 6:19 minutes through Vladimir Tarassenko (30th minute), Sam Bennett (34th minute) and Aleksander Barkov (36th minute).
The hosts did not give up in the third period and even came close again thanks to a deflected shot from Philip Broberg (47th) and shortly before the end from Ryan McLeod (55th). Last year’s finalists from Florida, however, withstood the pressure and are on the verge of winning the first championship in their NHL history.
Draisaitl, who once again failed to score a point, is now facing the premature end of his first NHL final series with the Oilers as early as Sunday night (CEST). Edmonton will then host the Panthers again at their home ground, Rogers Place.
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