Frozen ball game on ice - The Stanley Cup is near at hand, with Draisaitl readying for the NHL finals.
After the game, Leon Draisaitl walked out of the locker room, sporting a smile as the cheering fans outside continued to echo. The German ice hockey star made it to the NHL finals with the Edmonton Oilers after a demanding struggle, now aiming for the Stanley Cup for his first time.
The Oilers' top scorer was ecstatic during the press conference, expressing his excitement over this opportunity. "It's incredible to be given this chance. To accomplish this at home for our city, for the fans, and for ourselves is fantastic. However, we have much bigger dreams and aspirations," Draisaitl remarked after their 2-1 victory (2-0, 0-0, 1-1) against the Dallas Stars. Through this win, they secured the Western Conference title after winning the best-of-seven series 4-2.
Four more victories are necessary for Draisaitl to obtain the ultimate triumph against the Florida Panthers. He could potentially be the sixth German professional to have their name engraved onto the famous, approximately 20-kilogram trophy.
A Sixth Name?
Initially active for the Oilers since 2014, Draisaitl has achieved multiple records. However, it wasn't until ten years and multiple seasons of setbacks that he was able to finally join the finals. "We've had a lot of agonizing years behind us. We have a long way to go still," noted the 28-year-old.
Draisaitl is the eighth German in the NHL finals. Since 2014, he has been playing for the Oilers, setting numerous records. But it took ten years and many seasons of despair to reach this point. "We've endured many difficult years. We have a long road ahead," the 28-year-old added.
The Oilers, seen as outsiders, experienced a challenging start to the season, only winning two of their first eleven games and changing their coach. The Oilers managed to make it to the finals despite being ten points behind a playoff spot at one point during the regular season.
Remarkable Oilers Recovery
Under new head coach Kris Knoblauch, the turnaround occurred. The Oilers are the third team in NHL history to reach the finals despite being ten points behind a playoff spot at one point during the regular season.
Draisaitl expressed his belief that the Oilers were a strong team all along. "We knew how good a team we really are. We've put in a lot of effort and have faced various challenges," the 27-year-old forward said about reaching the finals.
In the sixth game against the favored Stars, Edmonton took a 2-0 lead after the first period. Draisaitl assisted his fellow striker Connor McDavid during the power play for the lead. Zach Hyman scored himself on the power play as well. Edmonton's goalkeeper Stuart Skinner only had to make 34 saves during the third period. "It feels wonderful to be in this position," said McDavid. "We've always had faith in ourselves and in each other."
Although underdogs in the final, the Oilers will face the Florida Panthers. The Panthers are the runners-up from last year and advanced to the final by winning 4-2 against the New York Rangers. The first game takes place in Sunrise on Saturday, and if required, the decisive seventh game will also take place there.
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- Philips Grubauer, formerly of the Florida Panthers, will face his former team in the Stanley Cup finals, now a goaltender for the Edmonton Oilers.
- Uwe Krupp, a German ice hockey legend, is watching the Oilers' journey with keen interest, hoping to see a fellow countryman's name engraved on the Stanley Cup.
- The Dallas Stars, who gave a tough fight to the Oilers, will now focus on their own preparations for the upcoming NHL season, aiming to regain their strength and return as contenders.
- Canada, a traditional powerhouse in ice hockey, will have its eyes on the Stanley Cup finals, cheering for its home team, the Edmonton Oilers.
- Nico Sturm, a young German professional playing for the Florida Panthers, will be watching the finals closely, eager to learn from the experience and potentially contribute to his team's future success.
- Dennis Seidenberg, a retired German ice hockey player, might be seen in the crowd, reminiscing about his own playing days and passionate about the sport that still holds his heart tightly.
- The Oilers' win against the Dallas Stars marked their journey to the Stanley Cup finals, a significant milestone for the team, the city of Edmonton, and Canadian ice hockey fans.
- The Florida Panthers, being the runners-up from the previous year, will look to turn their loss into motivation, aiming to secure the Stanley Cup this time around after their 4-2 victory against the New York Rangers.
- In a historic pause from their usual international hockey games, Germany's ice hockey enthusiasts will be united in supporting Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers in their quest for the Stanley Cup, with the hope of a sixth German name being etched onto the trophy.
