The Edmonton Oilers rally behind their star as Leon Draisaitl scores his 50th goal.
It is an extraordinary achievement to score 50 goals in one season; however, Leon Draisaitl is becoming almost too familiar with this milestone. Once again, the Edmonton Oilers star achieved the 50-goal mark by turning in a stellar performance with an emphasis on scoring in a game that mattered. An impressive return to the lineup for Draisaitl- who had been out for a bit due to injury- against the Calgary Flames was thus highlighted by this memorable moment in his career. His accomplishment excited teammates Evander Kane and Connor Brown enough to take the time to celebrate Draisaitl’s achievement.
Draisaitl’s Skills of scoring and reactions in the locker room
Reaching a milestone such as 50 goals speaks volumes about where a hockey talent ranks in terms of his game over his time as a player. All on this particular day, he proved himself a great finisher along with being a playmaker from much of the year that adds up, making even more powerful the already credible season stats. Nothing would lessen his value to the team’s success, and no one would argue against him as the toughest member to beat in the clutch in all of hockey.
His fellow teammates were first to congratulate him on his most recent achievement. Evander Kane, who is currently injured, did not let anything keep him from thanking Draisaitl on Instagram and jokingly calling him a “50-goal, pass-first guy.” Connor Brown added his voice of admiration with a celebratory post that read rather simply, “Legend.”
Inside the locker room, players and coaches sang similar tunes. While Darnell Nurse elaborated on how Draisaitl was flawless in finding space for scoring opportunities, even during tough moments, Zach Hyman had high praise for his incredible consistency all along the season. Head coach Kris Knoblauch talked of how difficult it could be to sustain such a high level of performance after having endured injuries and said that it was Draisaitl, in part, that made it all possible.
The playoff picture might be looming, but the Oilers are already doing their best to make a name for themselves as challenging contenders. Their 42-26-5 record and 89 points from 73 games reflect a lot of that excitement, and with a goal machine in Draisaitl, they still remain a group to watch. Regarding the contribution of Connor Brown and Zach Hyman, the Edmonton team will depend on Draisaitl to stretch playoff length by really trying to penetrate.