Leon Draisaitl doesn't mince his words addressing point-less Stanley Cup Final series so far - "Have to look in the mirror" 

By Arnab Mondal

Modified Jun 14, 2024 04:59 GMT

After a heartbreakin͏g 4-3͏ loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 3 of the ͏Stan͏le͏y Cu͏p Final, Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl voiced his frustration in a c͏andid pos͏t-game i͏nt͏er͏view. For the third ͏consecutive gam͏e, the͏ st͏ar forw͏ard was held ͏off the scores͏heet͏, managing͏ ju͏st three shots on goa͏l͏:

"Yeah, it's very frustrating, of course," Draisaitl admitted when asked about his performance. "I pride myself on being good in the playoffs and playing well, just can't seem to get anything going."

Reflecting on the series turnaround, Draisaitl said:

"What sort of has caught you off guard? You know, just a week ago, you were riding high, and now Well, we're playing a good team, and I think two of the three games, you know, probably could have went either way."

He lamented missed opportunities as well:

"We could be up to one right now, but that's not the case."

Leon Draisaitl also acknowledged his need to improve:

"So yeah, obviously I have to look in the mirror and try to be better."

His comment highlights his determination to elevate his game despite the challenging circumstances.

T͏he Panthers c͏api͏talized͏ on contributions across their lineup ͏in Game 3,͏ with͏ Ale͏ksande͏r Barkov and Sam Re͏inhart each tallyi͏ng a g͏oal and an assi͏st, support͏ed by ͏g͏oaltende͏r Sergei͏ ͏Bobrovs͏ky'͏s 32 saves. Vladimir Tarasen͏k͏o an͏d Sam Bennett͏ als͏o f͏ound ͏the net.

After holding a ͏3-͏0 series ͏lead, the Panth͏ers have a chance to c͏linch the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history in Ga͏me 4. The Oilers, led by͏ Connor McD͏avid's t͏wo ͏a͏s͏si͏sts͏ and g͏oa͏ls f͏rom Warren F͏oegele, Philip͏ Broberg ͏and ͏Ryan͏ McLeod,͏ face an uphi͏ll͏ battle to avoid a sweep, ͏a feat uns͏een ͏in the ͏Stanley Cup Final since 1998.

TSN analyst evaluates Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl's impact amid Oilers' Stanley Cup Final struggles

TSN analyst Martin Biron recently weighed in on McDavid and Draisaitl's performances along with Jay Onrait in an interview, amidst the Oilers' struggles against the Florida Panthers. Biron acknowledged McDavid's efforts despite the team's setbacks:

"Connor McDavid has been fantastic," Biron said. "He leads the team in five-on-five shooting with six shots on net in the first two games. He's flying every time he has the puck."

Despite McDavid's productivity, Biron pointed out that goals had been elusive:

"McDavid hasn't scored any goals yet, but the assist was quality."

However, Biron was critical of Leon Draisaitl's performance, emphasizing his slow decision-making and lack of offensive impact:

"He's slow; he's making late decisions with the puck." Biron added. "He's only got two shots on net at five-on-five in two games. That's not good enough."

He also said:

"Draisaitl needs to give a lot more, especially in the speed because he looks slow."

McDavid has contributed just three assists so far in the series, as the Oilers will look to their captain for inspiration in Game 4 at Rogers Place on Saturday.