Despite another strong performance from Leon Draisaitl, the Edmonton Oilers narrowly lost the top game in the North American professional ice hockey league NHL against the Washington Capitals.
Last year’s finalists from Canada lost 2-3 in front of their own audience against the team with the highest points in the league. As a result, the Oilers missed out on taking the lead in the Pacific Division from the Vegas Golden Knights. Nevertheless, Edmonton is still clearly on course towards the playoffs.
Draisaitl gave Edmonton the lead after just three minutes with his 34th goal of the season, allowing the Cologne player to further extend his lead in the top scorers list. However, Washington equalized in the first half and extended the lead to 3-1 with two more goals as the game progressed.
Draisaitl is the second best scorer in the league
Edmonton only managed to make it 2-3 in the final third through Corey Perry, with Draisaitl setting up the goal. The 29-year-old German has a total of 71 scorer points, only Nathan MacKinnon from the Colorado Avalanche (74) has more.
Peterka shoots Buffalo to victory
Meanwhile, John-Jason Peterka shot his Buffalo Sabers to victory in the away game at the Vancouver Canucks. The 23-year-old from Munich scored the winning goal in the 3-2 win in Canada a good seven minutes before the end, and a few minutes earlier he prepared the interim equalizer. For Peterka it was the first game with an own goal since December 22nd. Despite the win, Buffalo remains bottom of the Eastern Conference.
For Moritz Seider and the Detroit Red Wings, the interim high has finally come to an end. After seven wins in a row, Detroit suffered its third defeat in a row and its fourth in the last five games with a 2-1 overtime loss at the Philadelphia Flyers. Seider was not involved in his team’s only goal.
Stützle loses significantly with the Senators
Tim Stützle had to accept a clear defeat. With his Ottawa Senators, the attacker lost 5-0 to the New York Rangers.