Leon Draisaitl is very much aware of his own abilities. Prior to the Stanley Cup Final, the versatile Edmonton Oilers forward recognized that he’s a talented player with a unique skill set that defines him.
Following the Oilers’ initial loss in the final, Draisaitl expressed similar respect for Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who shut down Draisaitl and his teammates with 32 saves.
“He’s going to make some good saves,” Draisaitl remarked. “He’s a good goalie, and he’s going to make some big-time saves — and knowing that is important.”
Understanding this is crucial, but it also means “Bob” could get into the Oilers’ heads. Their main task for Game 2 on Monday night, which could be pivotal for evening the series, is to avoid letting frustration take hold. This starts with leadership from two of the NHL’s best players.
“We’re always going to get our looks; we’re always going to get our chances,” Draisaitl said on Sunday. “(It’s about) not gripping our sticks too tight but continuing to play loose and continuing to play our game.”
In Game 1, Florida Panthers’ Carter Verhaeghe celebrated a goal against the Oilers. This final marks the third time in five years for Florida, with Verhaeghe consistently scoring goals. Florida’s forward Aleksander Barkov noted the need for improvement in Game 2, despite their Game 1 victory. Eetu Luostarinen’s presence in the finals is significant for the Panthers.
Edmonton relies heavily on McDavid and Draisaitl, who together took 10 shots in Game 1. One of them has secured the Hart Trophy as league MVP in four of the past seven seasons.
“You become desensitized to how good those two players are,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “They are so dynamic and special that you get used to it and expect it every shift. They are truly special players because of all aspects of the game. Even if you do everything right, you might not stop them.”
In Game 1, despite doing almost everything right, the Oilers couldn’t score. Bobrovsky was impenetrable for McDavid, Draisaitl, and the rest of the Oilers.
McDavid pondered if losing despite outshooting Florida 32-18 was a payback from the hockey gods, given their Western Conference Final win against Dallas where they were outplayed but still won. He emphasized the need to break through and overcome bad luck.
“Certainly like to bear down and find a way to get one,” McDavid said. “Just make one more play — something. Find something that we weren’t able to find.”
The Oilers aim to split the first two games in Sunrise, which would turn the series into a best-of-five with the next two games at home, in front of fans who haven’t seen a final in nearly two decades.
To do this, they need to score against a goalie who seems invincible, and winger Connor Brown believes McDavid and Draisaitl will lead the charge.
“There’s no panic in our room right now,” Brown said. “We feel like we had a great process last game. Obviously, Bob made some big saves but we’ll keep at it, keep pushing, and good things will happen.”
