Top Stories of 2023 – No. 9: Leon Draisaitl ties 105-year-old playoff scoring record

Continuing along with our top stories of 2023, we have this note from the depths of the NHL’s record files.

While the Edmonton Oilers were facing the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round of the playoffs back in May, Leon Draisaitl matched a record set by Fred “Cyclone” Taylor of the Vancouver Millionaires in 1918 with nine goals over five games on the road in a single playoff run.

Draisaitl had an incredible scoring run for the Oilers in the playoffs this year. He scored seven goals in six games during the team’s first-round series with the L.A. Kings and exploded with six goals in the first two games of their second-round series with Vegas. Game 1 saw Draisaitl score four goals in a losing effort and he scored two in a Game 2 victory.

The Golden Knights were able to shut Draisaitl down for the next four games and they won the series in six games en route to their first-ever Stanley Cup. Though the Oilers were knocked out in the second round, Draisaitl finished tied for the league lead in goals in the playoffs at 13 with Conn Smythe Trophy Winner Jonathan Marchessault.