Leon Draisaitl etched his name in hockey history on June 12, 2025, scoring his fourth overtime goal of the playoffs at 11:18 in Game 4, a 5-4 Edmonton Oilers win over the Florida Panthers that tied the Stanley Cup Final 2-2.
The one-handed shot, deflecting off Niko Mikkola’s skate past Sergei Bobrovsky, marked an NHL playoff record for most OT goals in a single postseason, surpassing legends like Maurice Richard and Corey Perry.
With 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) in 20 games, Draisaitl trails only Connor McDavid (32 points) league-wide. After a goalless 2024 final marred by injuries, is the 29-year-old German now hockey’s ultimate clutch performer?
From Injury to Immortality: Draisaitl’s Redemption Arc
Last year, hand and rib injuries hobbled Draisaitl in the Oilers’ seven-game loss to Florida, limiting him to three assists. This postseason, a healthy Draisaitl has erupted, tying McDavid with 32 points and becoming the fifth player ever with 30 points in consecutive playoffs, alongside Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux.
His Game 4 heroics, scoring and assisting twice, followed a Game 1 OT winner, showcasing a knack for big moments. “He’s invaluable,” McDavid said, praising Draisaitl’s faceoff wins (60%) and defensive play.
Did you know?
In 1987, Edmonton’s Ron Hextall became the first goalie to score a playoff goal, a feat unmatched for decades. Draisaitl’s four OT goals in 2025 join this rare echelon, making him the first player to achieve such a playoff milestone, a testament to his clutch brilliance.
Edmonton’s Heart: Draisaitl Fuels Historic Rally
Draisaitl's overtime goal completed an incredible comeback, as Edmonton overcame a 3-0 first-period deficit, marking the first road rally in a Stanley Cup Final since 1919. Trailing after Matthew Tkachuk’s two power-play goals and Anton Lundell’s tally, Draisaitl’s assists on Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ and Darnell Nurse’s goals sparked a second-period surge.
His leadership shone as the Oilers outshot Florida 14-2 in the third, with Jake Walman’s go-ahead goal nearly sealing it before Sam Reinhart’s 19.5-second tying shot. Draisaitl’s calm under pressure delivered the dagger.
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Legacy on the Line: Can Draisaitl Deliver the Cup?
Draisaitl’s Game 4 performance, tying the series 2-2, has flipped the narrative from Florida’s dominance in Game 3’s 6-1 rout. His third OT goal in this Final, joining Game 1’s power-play winner, makes him one of three players with multiple OT goals in a single Final, per NHL records.
With Game 5 looming in Edmonton, where the Oilers are 10-0 in Game 4s over three years, Draisaitl’s 10 goals in three straight playoffs place him among icons like Mike Bossy.
But with Florida’s power play clicking (7-for-21), can he outduel Tkachuk and Reinhart to end Edmonton’s 35-year Cup drought? Will Draisaitl’s clutch brilliance lead the Oilers to Stanley Cup glory, or will Florida’s resilience steal the spotlight?
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