We're Not Even Into The 2nd Round Of The Playoffs And Leon Draisaitl Already Locked Up The Conn Smythe
Andy Devlin. Getty Images.What was it that Mariah Carey said about heroes? Something about "so when you feel like hope is gone, look inside you and be strong, and you'll finally see the truth, that a hero lies in you".
Clearly Draisaitl has a heavy dose of Mariah in his pregame playlist. Because the Edmonton Oilers were one game away from staring down a 3-1 series deficit against the LA Kings. We've seen incredible performances out of Connor McDavid in the playoffs before, but you can't always count on 97 coming through to save the day. They needed a hero to step up and save them from the grips of death.
So with the Oilers down 2-0 in last night's game, he picks up the primary assist on Corey Perry's powerplay goal to make it a 2-1 game.
But just a few minutes later, the Kings built up their lead again making it a 3-1 game heading into the 3rd period. Just about 8 minutes into the 3rd, Evan Bouchard made it a 3-2 game with assists coming from Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. But 11 more minutes went by and the Oilers couldn't find a way to tie up the game. They were a minute away from having to jump on a flight back down to LA fighting for their lives. But with the goalie pulled up 30 seconds left in regulation…
It's Evan Bouchard again from Draisaitl and McDavid. Quick sidenote here but there's not a more hot and cold player in hockey than Evan Bouchard. Sometimes it looks like he just put on skates for the first time in his life, and other times he's scoring the most clutch goal to keep the Oilers' hopes and dreams alive. It's not a day-by-day type of thing, either. It's a shift-by-shift.
But here are the Edmonton Oilers tying the game up a 3-3 at the end of regulation, and Leon Draisaitl has 3 primary assists. Time to head to overtime. Alexa, play "Hero" by Mariah Carey!
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They were down 2-0. They were down 3-1. But Leon Draisaitl dragged his nuts all across Rogers Place, put the team on his back, and had a 4 point night including the game winner to send this series back to LA tied 2-2. Go ahead and get those Draisaitl Conn Smythe futures in now while you still can.