What Leon Draisaitl said after heartbreaking Edmonton Oilers own-goal
The Edmonton Oilers were close to a 3-0 series lead over the Vegas Golden Knights, but fate had other plans.
Game 3 in Edmonton had the makings of a classic Oilers comeback victory. After Connor McDavid tied the game in the dying minutes, it seemed destined that these two teams would battle it out in OT for a second time in the series.
Yet, with the clock winding down it’s final moments of regulation, Vegas forward Reilly Smith got the puck in the slot and banked in the eventual game-winner off of Leon Draisaitl’s stick with just 0.4 seconds left.
It was initially ruled a no-goal, but a review confirmed that time was still left on the score-clock. A heartbreaking way to lose such an important game.
AT. THE. BUZZER. pic.twitter.com/6KX9O3aon4
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 11, 2025
If it hadn’t been for Draisaitl’s stick in the crease, it was likely that Smith’s shot would have missed the net completely. You can’t blame the Oilers’ superstar, as he was trying to keep the puck out of his net and was the victim of an unlucky bounce.
Draisaitl spoke to the media after the loss and discussed the moment.
“We didn’t sort it out very well to let the puck get into the slot,” Draisaitl said. “After that, it’s unlucky, it’s unfortunate. It goes off my stick, and I’m just trying to keep it out of the net.
“It’s just a bad bounce.”
"We didn't sort it out very well to let the puck get into the slot. After that, it's unlucky, it's unfortunate. It goes off my stick & I'm just trying to keep it out of the net. It's just a bad bounce."
Leon Draisaitl on Vegas' buzzer-beater goal. @Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/flLuBdD2Ea
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) May 11, 2025
That wasn’t the only goal against that Draisaitl took some responsibility for after the heartbreaking loss. On Vegas’ first goal of the game, he had the puck stripped from him by Keegan Kolesar, and the play eventually ended in the back of the Oilers’ net.
“The first one, I get stripped there, that puck should probably go in, so that’s obviously on me,” Draisaitl said.
Nicolas Roy taps home the juicy rebound for a huge response goal for Vegas, Golden Knights within 1!#VegasBorn | #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/lmju4H5PKu
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) May 11, 2025
It’s about as deflating a loss as the Oilers could have suffered, being so close to a 3-0 series lead. The reality is not terrible as the team is still in the driver’s seat and has a chance to make it a 3-1 lead over Vegas on Monday night.
They will have to cut out those defensive mistakes if they want to take a chokehold on the series.