EDMONTON — Even top athletes can have nights where they don`t perform at their best.
In some instances, a team`s performance dictates the outcome.
Leon Draisaitl was involved in three goals scored by the opponent during the 4-3 defeat. His two assists on offense were overshadowed when he accidentally redirected the game-winning shot into his own net with only 0.4 seconds left.
This was an unusual night for Draisaitl, the league`s sole player this season with 50 goals and 100 points, especially after he scored the overtime winner in Game 2 just two nights earlier.
However, during this game in Edmonton, Draisaitl`s struggles included a turnover near the Vegas blue line that resulted in the Golden Knights` first goal and a poor line change contributing to their second. The decisive goal came when a puck that appeared to be going wide deflected off Draisaitl`s stick and into the net in the final second.
The last 10 seconds were particularly disappointing for the Oilers, who had managed to tie the game with just 3:02 remaining (benefiting from a fortunate deflection off Brayden McNabb`s skate), only to give the Golden Knights a chance to win in the dying moments.
