“Never going to quit no matter what”: Leon Draisaitl leads Edmonton Oilers against Los Angeles Kings in OT thriller to tie series 2-2

In a high-stakes showdown, Leon Draisaitl proved again why he's the real deal in the playoffs, scoring the overtime goal as the Edmonton Oilers mounted a comeback to defeat the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 in Game 4 of the first-round series. The thriller victory at Rogers Place tied the series 2-2 and left the Oilers' Stanley Cup hopes alive.
Down most of the game, the Edmonton Oilers mounted a gritty comeback, powered by one-man shows by Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard, leaving the Kings stunned with another meltdown. The Edmonton Oilers were on the verge of a historic series deficit, but the "Team That Wouldn't Die" did not live up to that nickname after all.
Leon Draisaitl, who recorded a goal and three assists in Game 4, stopped Edmonton from squandering a valiant comeback. After sending the game into overtime on Evan Bouchard's tying goal at the end of regulation, the Edmonton Oilers had their way with overtime. Outshooting the Los Angeles Kings 17-7 in overtime, the Oilers persisted until Draisaitl scored the winner in a power-play scramble in front of the net to win a crucial game.
“It’s probably the most important goal I’ve scored in my career. Hopefully, there are a couple more to come that are even more important, but I’ll take that for now,” Draisaitl admitted postgame. “That’s our identity in here; we built that years ago. That’s a mentality we have that we’re never going to quit, no matter what. We’ve shown that in the series so far — maybe a little bit too much; we have to find a way to play with a lead. It shows a lot of character, and we can be really proud of that, but we don’t want to do that every night.”
Before the exciting conclusion, the Los Angeles Kings appeared set to build a commanding series advantage. Trevor Moore and Warren Foegele each scored early as the Kings took an early 3-1 lead up to the middle of the second period. Again, though, the Oilers' toughness was tested.
Connor McDavid, the forward who previously criticized the team for bad starts, praised the reversal. “We have a strong belief in here,” McDavid said. “We have a strong belief that we’re never out. People doubting us, putting ourselves in bad spots, but we’re working. We’re digging our way out and trying to find ways to win games, and obviously we found a way tonight. I’m proud of everyone and how we found a way tonight.”
It wasn't the first time the Oilers shocked the Kings in this series. They rallied from 4-0 down to tie up Game 1 and pulled another third-period rally in Game 3.
The DNA of this Oilers roster — a grit-driven team powered by game-altering plays by superstars like Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard — was once again on display.
Also read: Calvin Pickard vs Stuart Skinner: Who should start in goal for the Edmonton Oilers in Game 4?
With the series now in Los Angeles at 2-2, the onus is firmly on the Kings to stage a comeback. Although the Oilers have momentum, confidence, and their superstars playing in the clutch—a worse situation for any team to be facing.