His teammates reacted as Leon Draisaitl, with three points, led the Edmonton Oilers to a 4-2 road win over the Calgary Flames on Sunday night.
Draisaitl has stepped up for the Oilers in Connor McDavid’s absence, producing back-to-back three-point performances (one goal and three assists against the Flames and two goals and an assist against the Predators.
“He’s playing unbelievable,”said Zach Hyman. “I think his whole line is playing great, and he’s really driving the bus right now for our team in all areas of the game. He’s been phenomenal.”
hyman on draisaitl's three-point night: "he's playing unbelievable. i think his whole line is playing great and he's really driving the bus right now for our team in all areas of the game. he's been phenomenal."
— zach (@zjlaing) November 4, 2024
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch was also in awe of Draisaitl’s immense contributions.
“Leon has definitely been our leader,” Knoblauch remarked. “You look at these two games that we’ve won — Nashville and here — he’s really stepped up his game. In Nashville, he was the best player on the ice. Tonight, I believe he was the best player on the ice.”
The coach added that stellar performances from top players like Leon Draisaitl will be necessary for Edmonton to without McDavid.
“You need people stepping up, and obviously your best players have to be your best players on most nights. So far, he has. I can’t say enough about what he’s providing our team.”
Zach Hyman, Jeff Skinner and Mattias Janmark also scored for the Oilers, while Anthony Mantha and Yegor Sharangovich did so for the Flames. Stuart Skinner saved 28 shots, while Calgary goaltender Dan Vladar stopped 27.
Mattias Ekholm’s comments about Leon Draisaitl leading the Oilers in Connor McDavid’s absence
Mattias Ekholm prasied Leon Draisaitl’s leadership and effort in captain Connor McDavid’s absence due to injury. McDavid sustained an ankle injury against the Columbus Blue Jackets and is expected to take 2-3 weeks to recover.
Ekholm said:
“I think that there’s been collectively an effort from guys to step up in his (Connor McDavid) absence and very nice to see Arvid’s getting goals, Hyman getting goals, Jeff Skinner’s getting goals.
“Obviously, Leon’s leading the way, so guys have been stepping up and obviously when you lose the best player in the world, you’re going to have to have the collective, especially the forward group step up, and I think as defenseman also has and the goal tending department has done their job.”
