The superstar forward delivers an powerful message.
The Edmonton Oilers officially have their backs up against the wall.
The Oilers have a chance to even the Stanley Cup Final this evening in Sunrise, Florida. They also have the chance to lose the Stanley Cup to the Florida Panthers for the second season in a row. Again... backs up against the wall.
Win and you have a chance at the Stanley Cup on home ice. Lose and your season is over.
The stakes can't get any higher.
With that in mind, Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl delivered a message to his teammates via the media today: Don't change a thing.
Draisaitl spoke today about his team's urgency heading into Game 6 and how they can't sit back and allow the Panthers to control the play. The Oilers have to play the way that has brought them success and that means not changing their style based on their opponents' play style.
“Not much has changed for us,” Draisaitl said today. “If we wanted to win, we would have had to win this game here on the road anyways."
“For us, it's about trying to get to our game a little bit quicker. Playing better. I think we still haven't seen our best. Tonight would be a great time to show it. I think our first shifts in the last couple games have actually been really good. It's just the couple shifts after that, we just kind of let off a little bit,” said Draisaitl.
Draisaitl would go on to explain that he might take a few more chances offensively this evening.
“There comes a time in the game where you have to take chances. That's just the way it is. Your top guys take chances and then you're leaking a little bit the other way,” Draisaitl said of chasing the game. “For us, playing with the lead and just getting off to a better start in general, not being down 2-0 after the first period will go a long way.”
Puck drop is 8pm ET / 5pm PT, you just KNOW that Leon is going to come out firing. The question is, will the rest of the Oilers match his intensity?
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