Assist provider Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers are only missing one more win in the NHL playoffs on the way to the Stanley Cup to reach the second round. The Oilers defeated the Los Angeles Kings 1-0 on Sunday evening (April 28, 2024, local time) and now lead 3-1 in the best-of-seven series. The decision can be made as early as Thursday night at the next game in Edmonton.
After 27 goals in the first three games, both teams’ defenses hardly allowed anything in game four. Edmonton’s lead came from the first majority phase of the game. The puck came to Evan Bouchard via stars Connor McDavid and Draisaitl, who shot it into the net from a distance.
Draisaitl: “Not our best offensively”
“Definitely not the best we’ve played offensively this season, but in the playoffs you have to win games like that,” said Draisaitl. “13 (shots) are definitely not enough to keep winning games from here on out, but you have to win games like that every now and then.”
The New York Rangers had previously prevailed in the fourth duel with the Washington Capitals and became the first NHL team to reach the second round of the playoffs. The Rangers won 4-2 in Washington.
The Vancouver Canucks won 4-3 after overtime against the Nashville Predators and now lead 3-1 in the series. The Colorado Avalanche also only need one more win to advance to the second round. In front of their own fans in Denver there was a 5-1 win against the Winnipeg Jets.
