It's starting to look like a Game 7 might be necessary in the Stanley Cup Final.
Riding the momentum of two straight victories while facing elimination, the Edmonton Oilers grabbed the early lead over the Florida Panthers in Game 6 on Friday. Only 7:27 into the first period, Warren Foegele lit the lamp to make it 1-0, sending an already raucous Rogers Place crowd into hysterics.
Leon Draisaitl ultimately made the play, jumping on a loose puck at center ice before showing patience in the offensive zone. He drew in the defense while allowing Foegele to sneak open for an easy tip-in past Panthers netminder Sergei Bobrovsky.
It's an excellent sign for the surging Oilers and Draisaitl, the former Hart Trophy winner who has struggled to find his footing during the series. Entering Friday's action, he only had two assists through five games.
Before Game 6, Draisaitl admitted to not being happy with his play during the series but vowed to turn things around.
"I haven't found my game, I haven't found my legs and am not at the standard I hold myself to obviously," Draisaitl said via NHL.com. "But I'm excited to come into the series tonight."
It's only 20 minutes, but like most of his Oilers teammates, Draisaitl has a noticeable energy in the first period of Game 6. Along with an assist, he posted two takeaways and two shots on goal over 6:37 of ice time.
Draisaitl and the Oilers held the 1-0 advantage through the conclusion of the first. They dominated the opening period, tilting the ice and outshooting the Panthers 11-2.
