Leon Draisaitl is finding his stride, and so are the Edmonton Oilers.
Draisaitl netted two goals on Saturday night, propelling the Oilers to a 4-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. This marks four goals in three games for Draisaitl, all contributing to Edmonton’s three-game win streak.
“I think we’re finding our game a little bit, finding our identity as a team,” said Draisaitl, who recorded his 50th career two-goal game. “It was a good effort again. We’ve been playing some good hockey.”
Mattias Janmark added a goal and an assist, Klim Kostin scored for the third consecutive game, and Zach Hyman chipped in with two assists as the Oilers wrapped up a successful 3-1 road trip. Jack Campbell made 27 saves.
The Oilers are starting to look like the team that reached the Western Conference final last season. They will play four of their next five at home, though they currently hold a 10-11-2 record at Rogers Place this season.
“Now it’s about going back home, getting a little bit of rest here, getting a good practice in, and start attacking the record at home,” Edmonton coach Jay Woodcroft said. “It’s time. Everybody knows that. That’s an area in which we can be better.”
Draisaitl and Connor McDavid have consistently excelled against the Golden Knights. Draisaitl has 20 points in 17 career games against Vegas, while McDavid has 20 points in 16 games. McDavid’s first-period assist extended his points streak to seven games (five goals, six assists).
Paul Cotter, Keegan Kolesar, and William Karlsson scored for the Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights, who have now lost six straight games (0-5-1) against division opponents. Logan Thompson made 33 saves.
“If I have to emphasize we’re playing a divisional team, shame on the guys,” Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. “That’s the way I look at it. We know who we’re playing. We may not know every place in the standings of every team. Most players don’t. But understanding the value of divisional points and coming out ready to play, it’s disappointing.”
The Oilers took an early 2-0 lead with goals from Janmark and Draisaitl on two of their first four shots just 1:42 into the game. Edmonton dominated the first period, outshooting Vegas 16-8, but didn’t add to their lead.
Vegas cut the lead to 2-1 with 1:14 remaining in the period when Kolesar’s shot from behind the goal deflected off Campbell and into the net. Kolesar has six points in six games (two goals, four assists).
The Oilers twice extended their lead to two goals in the second period, with Draisaitl and Kostin scoring, but the Golden Knights responded each time. Goals from Cotter and Karlsson kept Vegas close, and they entered the final period trailing 4-3.
This was Vegas’ first game without captain Mark Stone, who suffered an upper-back injury on Thursday against Florida and is listed as week-to-week by Cassidy. Stone underwent back surgery in May but recently reported feeling especially healthy. He is second on the Knights with 17 goals and 38 points.
PERSONAL REVENGE TOUR
Edmonton’s Mattias Janmark has scored four goals this season against his former teams. He scored against Chicago, twice against Dallas, and one against Vegas in this game.
“It just brings a little out of me, I guess,” Janmark said. “It means a little more, so that’s when you want to score. Whenever you go through a little drought, these are the games you kind of hope that you come through.”
UP NEXT
- Oilers: Host Seattle on Tuesday night.
- Golden Knights: Host Dallas and former coach Pete DeBoer on Monday night.
