The Edmonton Oilers vs Toronto Maple Leafs game played tonight had a special feel.
The Edmonton Oilers are writing history as they go - and now they have an 11 game winning streak. They had set a new record with their tenth in a row, which was something the Wayne Gretzky-led Oilers were never able to accomplish.
Connor McDavid.In light of this, every game they win is another notch in their favor in the history books. They are feeling comfortable under pressure in the third period - something that was absent in the first part of the season.
"I think if you do it a couple times, and you can win a couple games late a certain way you build trust in that," is how Leon Draisaitl described the composure that the Oilers are displaying late in games to reporters.
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.Draisaitl added that the pressure that the team once felt to tie up games immediately after going down a goal has gone away. "You build a level of comfort and knowing that there's no rush to open it up and score in the first minute of the third to tie it up."
The added pressure of the fans at the game - equally cheering for both sides - certainly added to the tension of the contest.
The atmosphere was totally and completely akin to a playoff game. Whenever one fan would cheer "let's go Oilers" another would equally cheer "Go Leafs Go". To be honest, you could forget which arena you were in if you weren't paying attention.
The colors of the jersey's in the stands were close to a 50-50 split between the Maple Leafs and the Oilers. To win a game like that in the regular season, has to have the team pumped to be a playoff team.
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