Leon Draisaitl on the verge of a dangerous career first

If there’s a time in which Leon Draisaitl needs to wake up, it’s now for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers in Edmonton tonight. The Cats have made it hard for the Oilers’ star forward since the beginning of the series, and Draisaitl only has two apples in this series.

Draisaitl had 28 points in 18 games entering the Final, and now faces a tough reality going into tonight’s Game 6.

According to Frank Seravalli of Daily Face-Off, Draisaitl is on the verge of a dangerous and ugly career first as “the best playoff performer of his generation – is in danger of something that has never happened in his previous 12 postseason series. He has never failed to register at least three points in one series.”

Rumours have hinted at a possible injury affecting Draisaitl, who is known to keep pushing and playing hurt no matter what. However, this time, it may be too much for the German forward.

"He clearly seems to be managing an injury but doesn’t appear to be laboring when skating. The odd part of these playoffs is that McDavid, believed to be dealing with a hip malady that will likely require surgery and was lacking his usual burst early, appears to have gotten healthier the deeper the Oilers have played. The cumulative effect seems to have gotten to Draisaitl."

Frank Seravalli 

Luckily for the Oilers, Connor McDavid is making sure the Oilers have a chance to be the ones hoisting the Cup next Monday as he’s been on fire in the past two contests. The captain recorded two assists in Game 5, for a total of 34 assists this post-season, adding to his NHL record he set in Game 4 when he passed Wayne Gretzky’s 31 apples in the 1988 playoffs. He also added an empty-net goal as the Oilers won 5-3.

Tonight might be Draisaitl’s last chance to eliminate this bad career first. Let’s see if he can get over it in time before it’s too late for Edmonton…