Last night, the Edmonton Oilers pulled off a historic comeback, tying the Stanley Cup Final series thanks to an overtime winner from Leon Draisaitl, who also tallied two assists in the game. Now, hockey legend Wayne Gretzky has shared an unexpected reason behind the Oilers’ stunning turnaround.
Before last night’s dramatic finish to Game 4, no team in NHL history had ever come back to win a Stanley Cup Final game after trailing 3–0 at the end of the first period. But the Oilers managed to claw their way back, ultimately equalizing the series at 2–2 before heading back to Edmonton for Game 5 on Saturday.
One goal and two assists
As usual, Leon Draisaitl played a pivotal role in the team’s success. In addition to scoring the game-winning goal in overtime, he also recorded two assists during regulation. After the game, Wayne Gretzky shared his thoughts on the Oilers’ remarkable comeback—and attributed it, in part, to something that happened off the ice.
Wayne Gretzky’s explanation
Earlier in the day, the winner of this year’s Hart Trophy was announced: Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. The decision snubbed Draisaitl, a finalist, despite his key role in leading the Oilers to their second consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance. According to Wayne Gretzky, that slight may have fueled Draisaitl’s inspired performance.
“Great athletes have a lot of pride. And let me tell you, he’s focused on only one thing—winning the Stanley Cup. But when he didn’t win that award today, he was like, ‘Okay, I’m gonna get up on my horse today and show people how good I really am,’ and he showed that tonight,” Gretzky said, praising Draisaitl’s performance.
Game 5 will be played Saturday in Edmonton.
You can watch the video below.
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