For the German ice hockey star Leon Draisaitl, the bitter opening defeat in the conference finals of the North American professional league NHL with the Edmonton Oilers at Colorado Avalanche also brought positive results.
“We have proven that we come back after every score, have a lot of morals and never give up,” said the top striker in a press round the morning after the 6-8 defeat.
Of course, “you don’t want to concede six goals halfway through a game,” said the native of Cologne: “Colorado are a good team, but they haven’t really done anything great. We have to see that we limit them, defend more resolutely and get a better one there Do the job. I’m sure we’ll do better in game two.”
He doesn’t feel a lot of pressure given the Oilers’ strong season. “There are only four teams left in the race to win what I believe is the hardest trophy in the world to win. I wouldn’t call it pressure,” said Draisaitl, who is 13th in the current Stanley Cup playoffs Play scored 28 points.
Game two of the “best of seven” series will also take place in Denver on Friday night (2:00 a.m. CEST).