ice Hockey
Oilers in the NHL semifinals: Draisaitl series holds
The Oilers now face the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference finals. photo
© DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press/AP/dpa
3-0 after two periods, 3-2 after three periods – the Edmonton Oilers survived a shaky final phase and are in the NHL Conference Finals. Leon Draisaitl’s series holds up.
In game seven of the hard-fought series against the Vancouver Canucks, the Oilers won 3-2 (0-0, 3-0, 0-2) on the road and picked up their needed fourth win. Draisaitl contributed to the success with his 16th assist – the Cologne player has scored or assisted at least one goal in every playoff game this season.
“We did a great job in the first two thirds. We fought hard all evening, I’m proud of the boys. We gave ourselves a chance to get to where we want to be. But there’s still so much work to do in front of us,” said Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who scored to make it 3-0 after Draisailt’s assist. “There are four teams left, everyone deserves it at this point.”
Now against the Dallas Stars
Stuart Skinner was in goal again and only had to fend off 17 shots – including some great ones from the hosts in a hectic final phase. After leading 3-0 at one point, the Oilers lost control in the final minutes and conceded two goals. “I think we did a good job, we bent over but we didn’t break,” said Oilers star Connor McDavid.
The finals of the Western Conference are now against Dallas. To reach the final series for the Stanley Cup, a team needs four wins in the best-of-seven series. Game one takes place on Friday night in Germany in Dallas. In the Eastern Conference, the New York Rangers and the Florida Panthers will determine the other final participants.
Draisaitl has been in the conference finals once so far. Two years ago there were four defeats against the eventual champions, the Colorado Avalanche. Like his teammate McDavid, Draisaitl is one of the exceptional professionals in the NHL. Both have been honored with several individual awards throughout their careers, but have not yet won the Stanley Cup.