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Greg Wyshynski, ESPNJun 15, 2024, 12:52 PM ET
CloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.
EDMONTON, Alberta — Edmonton Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch defended the play of center Leon Draisaitl, the playoffs’ second-leading scorer who has yet to register a point in the Stanley Cup Final ahead of Saturday night’s Game 4.
Draisaitl had 28 points in 18 games entering the Final. That included 10 goals, second on the team behind winger Zach Hyman (14). Draisaitl had not gone three straight games without a point this season.
“I’ve seen Leon obviously play better, but to say that he’s playing poorly is vastly unfair. I think he’s helping a lot,” said Knoblauch, whose team trails Florida 3-0 and faces elimination in Game 4.
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Draisaitl is third on the team in shots on goal (9) and fourth in shot attempts (16) in all situations. While he’s gotten chances on an Oilers power play that’s now 0-for-10 in the series, he’s generated just two shots on goal and four shot attempts at 5-on-5, where the Panthers are masterful defensively. He leads the team with 21 giveaways in all situations.
Florida hasn’t allowed a 5-on-5 goal against the Oilers top five scorers — Draisaitl, Hyman, Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Evan Bouchard — in the series. The Panthers also held stars like New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin, Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak and Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov without a 5-on-5 goal in the series leading up to the Final.
Draisaitl, who was robbed by goalie Sergei Bobrovsky on a sliding save in Game 3, was critical of his own performance after the Oilers’ latest loss.
“Yeah, it’s very frustrating, of course. I pride myself on being good in the playoffs and playing well and I just can’t seem to get anything going. Obviously have to look in the mirror and try to be better,” he said.
Knoblauch said that even if he isn’t scoring, Draisaitl is helping the team. He noted that the center was the catalyst for Ryan McLeod’s…
Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/40356851/oilers-coach-kris-knoblauch-defends-scoreless-star-leon-draisaitl
Author : Greg Wyshynski
Publish date : 2024-06-15 18:02:27
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