(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)
As you can imagine it was a frustrated visitor’s locker room after Wednesday night’s Game 1 loss to the Golden Knights. Edmonton’s players, including imaginary third-star Leon Draisaitl, were vocal answering questions bluntly and honestly. The Oilers center put on a dazzling one-man show but his four-goal performance failed to overcome Vegas’ pressure in the series opener. Not only were the Oilers disappointed with the outcome but felt they played their way out of the game.
After Game 1, Edmonton solely blamed their performance for dropping the opening game in Las Vegas. The Oilers didn’t fully come out and downplay the Golden Knights’ execution, but they didn’t praise them either.
It’s nothing they did. They’re a good team we know that but nothing we can’t handle. This is just on us not bringing our best game. Different looking team, different system but overall, we weren’t good enough. That’s not even close to how we play. Got to move on and we’ll be better. -Leon Draisaitl, Oilers forward
When asked about his momentous night, Draisaitl scoffed at the idea that four goals in a postseason loss was an accomplishment. It sure looked like it to the rest of us but not to a player more concerned with tying the second round series with Vegas. Edmonton’s star was disappointed by the loss and highlighted the mistakes made by his team as to why his team lost, not because of what the Golden Knights were able to do to them.
Again, the Oilers weren’t entirely ignoring the challenges the Golden Knights presented but they certainly weren’t worried.
