Leon Draisaitl continues to climb the ranks among the greatest players in NHL history.

He scored his third overtime goal of the 2025 playoffs last night to give the Oilers a 1-0 series lead in the Cup Final.

Draisaitl is having another remarkable playoff season. Here’s a look at his performance this year and in his career to date.

— Last night, he became the fifth player in NHL history to score three OT goals in one playoff year. Oddly, three of those five were on the ice last night. Mel Hill (Boston Bruins) had three in 1939, Maurice “The Rocket” Richard (Montreal) did it in 1951, Corey Perry (ANA) in 2017 and Matthew Tkachuk (Florida) in 2023. Hill is the only one won the Stanley Cup in the same season. Draisaitl is three wins away from joining him.

— Draisaitl tied Glenn Anderson for the most career OT playoff goals in Oilers history with three.

— He also set the Oilers record for most OT goals in one year with three. Esa Tikkanen had two in 1991.

— He scored his 50th career playoff goal last night. He joins Nathan MacKinnon as the only active players to score 50 goals in their first 100 playoff games. He did it in his 91st game, MacKinnon needed 89 games. For a quick comparison to the other active players, Steven Stamkos has 50 in 128 games. Nikita Kucherov has scored 53 in 153 games, Patrick Kane has 53 in 143 games, MacKinnon has 55 in 95 games, Brad Marchand has 61 in 175 games, Corey Perry has 61 in 232 games, Evgeni Malkin has 67 in 177 games, Sidney Crosby has 71 in 130 games, and Alex Ovechkin has 77 in 161 games. Draisaitl and MacKinnon could pass all of them.

— Draisaitl entered this season averaging 1.46 points/game in the playoffs, fourth best among players to play 35+ games. This year he’s at 1.59 with 27 points in 17 games and he’s up his career average to 1.48.

— Draisaitl is three points shy of reaching 30 points this year. Only Mark Messier (three times) and Wayne Gretzky (six) have scored 30+ points in three playoff seasons. Connor McDavid needs two points to join them as well.

— Draisaitl’s OT winner was his 21st playoff powerplay goal. Gretzky owns the Oilers record with 23, while Anderson and Jari Kurri have 22. Draisaitl will own that record soon as well.

— Brett Hull owns the NHL record with 38 PP goals followed by Gretzky and Mike Bossy (35). Draisaitl has a legitimate chance to own that record as well.

— Draisaitl has 135 career playoff points which has him 46th all time. Before the series is over he will pass Phil Esposito (137 points), Patrick Kane (138), Corey Perry (138) and Jacques Lemaire (139). Those players played between 130-232 games.

What’s remarkable about Draisaitl’s assent up the scoring charts is that he is German. He didn’t grow up playing against other good players. He was the best, by a lot, and had to challenge himself. It’s a testament to his focus and determination.

When he was drafted he was regarded as more of a play maker than a goal scorer, and he’s still a great passer, but he’s worked hard to become an elite goal scorer. He has one of the best one-timers in the NHL. He’s arguably the best passer in the league, forehand and backhand. He’s good on faceoffs, and he finished 6th in Selke voting this year.

He’s challenged himself to become an excellent defensive player, and the numbers back it up. He took the challenge of shutting down Jack Eichel in the final two games of the Vegas series, and Eichel and the Golden Knights didn’t score a goal in either game.

Draisaitl continues to improve small areas of his game, and he’s become not only a great goal scorer, but a player with the ability to elevate his game in the big moments.

The Oilers are 4-0 in overtime this playoff. Draisaitl has been involved in all four goals, scoring three and assisting on Kasperi Kapanen’s goal.

His legend continues to grow.

Florida was 31-0 under Paul Maurice when they lead after the first and second periods in a playoff game, until last night. They are now 31-1.

The Oilers are the 10th team in NHL history to overcome a multi-goal deficit and win Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Of the previous nine to do it, only Boston (2019) didn’t win the Cup.

— And another note about how important last night’s victory was.  Teams who win Game 1 of the Cup Final on home ice have a record of 52-10.

— Stuart Skinner was excellent in the second period and the first five minutes of overtime when Florida overwhelmed the Oilers. He outdueled Sergei Bobrovsky last night, as Bobrovsky allowed a long shot from Viktor Arvidsson, while Skinner didn’t allow any “weak” goals.