Superstar Leon Draisaitl threatens to end the NHL playoff semifinals with the Edmonton Oilers. The five-time champions from Canada also lose the third game against the Colorado Avalanche and could be eliminated in the best-of-seven series as early as Tuesday night.
Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers have little chance of reaching the final of the North American ice hockey league NHL. The Germany international also lost the third playoff semifinal with the Oilers to the Colorado Avalanche. The team with German professional Nico Sturm won 4:2 (1:1, 1:0, 2:1) in Edmonton and only needs one win to reach the finals of the Stanley Cup.
After the two previous defeats in Colorado, playoff top scorer Connor McDavid put the Oilers ahead after just 38 seconds. But after two goals by Valeri Nitschuschkin (17th/25th minute) and the 2:2 for Edmonton by Ryan McLeod (48th), J.T. Compher (53′) and Mikko Rantanen (60′) for the guests’ next success. At the Avalanche, Nazem Kadri, match winner at 4-0 in the second game, was injured after 66 seconds after a check by Evander Kane.
Sturm came on seven minutes this time after not having been in the Avalanche squad last time, while Draisaitl remained without a goal or assist, as he did in the 4-0 defeat in Colorado. For the second year in a row, after becoming the first player in NHL history to provide multiple assists in six consecutive playoff games. The Oilers lost the first game 6-8. The fourth game in the series for the championship title in the west of the league will take place again in Edmonton on Tuesday night. Only four teams in the NHL have managed to come back from a 3-0 deficit in a series.
In the other playoff semifinal, which determines the champions in the East, the New York Rangers won the first two games against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Here, too, four victories are necessary to advance.