Dec 10, 2024; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; The Edmonton Oilers celebrate a goal scored by forward Leon Draisaitl (29) during the second period against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

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Leon Draisaitl Leads Oilers to 2-1 Victory Over Lightning

Edmonton Secures Third Straight Victory in a Tight Contest Against Tampa Bay

Leon Draisaitl continued his stellar season, notching a goal and an assist as the Edmonton Oilers edged out the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 at Rogers Place on Tuesday.

Draisaitl’s goal marked his 20th of the season, making him the first NHL player to reach that milestone this year. Connor McDavid added a goal, while Stuart Skinner stood strong in the net with 21 saves, helping the Oilers secure their third consecutive win and their sixth in the last seven games (6-1-0).

“We’ve got to be able to win games like this, 2-1, 3-1, games like that, It was certainly a good benchmark for us as to how we want to play these games and get them over the finish line. We have some good teams coming up. Those games are fun. We want to be one of those teams, we are one of those teams. It should be a good week for us.”: said Draisaitl, who has reached 20 goals in nine consecutive seasons.

Jake Guentzel kept his hot streak alive for the Lightning with a goal in his fourth straight game. Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy made 24 saves, but Tampa Bay, now 14-10-2, fell short despite having won three of their previous four games.

From @JayOnSC – Leon Draisaitl set up Connor McDavid to open the scoring and Draisaitl would go on to score the eventual game winner. @frankcorrado22 takes a deeper dive on the Oilers' sixth win in their last seven games: https://t.co/qjeq5uLVRy pic.twitter.com/bP2ysbvV5g
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) December 11, 2024

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The game began with a near-goal from Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm at 7:25 of the first period. His slap shot from a loose puck found the net, but the goal was overturned after a video review revealed that Zach Hyman was offside.

McDavid opened the scoring for Edmonton at 17:31 of the first period. After being stopped on a breakaway earlier, McDavid made no mistake this time, weaving past two defenders and firing a shot past Vasilevskiy’s blocker.

The Lightning equalized at 10:02 of the second period when a defensive turnover by Evan Bouchard gave Nikita Kucherov a chance to feed Guentzel in the slot. Guentzel’s wrist shot slipped under Skinner’s blocker to make it 1-1.

The Oilers regained the lead at 11:58, thanks to an unusual sequence. Draisaitl’s initial backhand shot on a breakaway was saved by Vasilevskiy, but the rebound deflected off Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman’s skate and into the net, giving Draisaitl the credited goal.

Tampa Bay nearly forced overtime in the dying seconds of the third period during a chaotic scramble in front of the Oilers’ net. However, the goal was disallowed due to a high stick by Nick Paul, a call that was confirmed after a video review.

The Oilers’ victory improved their record to 16-10-2, and they continue to build momentum as one of the NHL’s hottest teams.

Image Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

Leon Draisaitl

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Anamika Shrivastava

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I’ve always loved writing and storytelling, and hockey gives me a perfect stage for endless stories to tell. Whether it’s breaking down a game, analyzing a big trade, or capturing the emotions on the ice, I bring the NHL to life through words. So what’s the best part you ask? Watching the action unfold and turning it into something fans can connect with. To my readers: Hockey is more than just a game—it’s the highs, the heartbreaks, and the moments that make us jump off our seats. So, keep cheering, keep debating, and never stop loving the madness of the sport!