How Leon Draisaitl’s lockdown defense is driving Edmonton Oilers’ playoff success against Vegas Golden Knights

Leon Draisaitl has made a name for himself lighting up scoreboards, but it’s what he’s doing without the puck that’s got the Edmonton Oilers knocking on the door of the Western Conference Final. While his five points in four games are nothing to scoff at, it’s his gritty, relentless defensive play that’s setting the tone. With Edmonton up 3-1 in the series against the Vegas Golden Knights, Draisaitl is proving he’s more than just a sniper — he’s the kind of all-around leader who can tilt a playoff series.Game 4 in Edmonton was a statement. The Oilers blanked the Golden Knights 3-0, and Draisaitl was glued to Jack Eichel from the first shift to the last. Eichel, who racked up a career-best 94 points this season, has been held to just five assists in the series — and a big part of that is Draisaitl’s shadowing work.“I like to think that I can play any role that you give me,” Draisaitl said. “Obviously a challenge like that excites me. I feel like whenever I’ve been given a challenge like that, I’ve always responded well.”“I know I’m very capable of scoring goals, and on the other side also defending very well and shutting someone down. Whatever it is I’m needed to do this time of year I’ll be doing.”That mindset is exactly what has the Oilers thriving. Draisaitl, who led the NHL with 52 goals this season and put up 106 points in just 71 games, is choosing to lean into a more physical, defensive game when it matters most.“Because I want to win and know sometimes that’s what it takes to win,” he said. “I can put my own stats on the back burner for a couple of months if that means that we’re going to be the last team standing. Obviously we have a long ways to go, but whatever it is, I’ll gladly do that.”Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch doesn’t think that kind of effort should go unnoticed.“In my opinion, Leon should win the Hart Trophy,” Knoblauch said. “Maybe he doesn’t because he missed the last couple of weeks [because of injury], but I don’t think that’s enough for him not to win it.”Knoblauch also made the case for Draisaitl as a Selke Trophy contender — even though he isn’t in the running.“If he was on the penalty kill regularly, he’s probably definitely in that conversation and getting that recognition,” Knoblauch said. “Just the fact that we have other guys that are contributing with the penalty kill and have more roles for other guys, we haven’t needed Leon to kill penalties this year. I think if he was killing penalties, that would be Selke consideration for sure, without a doubt. He can do it, he’s very good at it, he takes a lot of responsibility in his game.”Draisaitl is, however, a Hart Trophy finalist again this season, joined by Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck and Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov.His teammates certainly know what they’ve got in him.“He’s probably, if not the best player, then probably the second-best player (to teammate Connor McDavid) in the world right now,” Kasperi Kapanen said. “Me and [linemate Vasily Podkolzin] just try to get pucks to him and let him do his thing and be responsible on the other side of the puck.”Now in his 11th NHL season, Draisaitl has racked up the individual awards — the Hart, Art Ross, Ted Lindsay, and now the Rocket Richard this year — but there's still one thing missing from his collection: a Stanley Cup. The Oilers were heartbreakingly close last season, falling to the Florida Panthers 2-1 in Game 7 of the Final.This time, Draisaitl is doing everything he can to change the ending.What the Oilers have in Leon Draisaitl is rare — a 50-goal scorer who’s willing to dig in and do the dirty work when it matters most. His defensive edge has helped put Vegas on the ropes, and with Game 5 coming up in Las Vegas, Edmonton has a chance to close the series out. In the playoffs, it’s not just about how many you score — it’s about how badly you want to win. Draisaitl’s showing he’ll do whatever it takes.Also Read: Pittsburgh Penguins plan trade for Marco Rossi? Philadelphia Flyers risk losing Noah Cates amid contract disputes