Leon Draisaitl makes history with one of the fastest goals in Stanley Cup Final Game 1
Leon Draisaitl gave the Edmonton Oilers the perfect start to the Stanley Cup Final. Just 66 seconds into Game 1, he scored off a rebound to put his team ahead 1-0. It wasn't just an important early lead, it was also one of the fastest goals ever recorded in a Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
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A goal in sixty six seconds: Draisaitl's historic start to Game 1
Leon Draisaitl's goal just over a minute into Game 1 instantly made headlines. After a pair of quick rebounds, the puck landed right on his stick. From there, the Oilers' star forward made no mistake, giving his team an early edge in the series against the Florida Panthers.
His goal was officially clocked at 1:06 into the first period. That puts it among the fastest goals ever scored in the opening game of the Stanley Cup Final.
According to NHL records, it ranks seventh all-time for quickest Game 1 goals. It's also the fastest to start a Game 1 in the last 40 years.
GOTTA SEE IT: Leon Draisaitl Starts The Stanley Cup Final With A Swift Strike
Leon Draisaitl's goal was officially clocked at 1:06 into the first period, making it the seventh-fastest goal ever scored in a Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. According to NHL records, only six players have scored quicker in this scenario.
The fastest belongs to Sid Smith of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who scored just 15 seconds into Game 1 back in 1951.
Reggie Leach followed with a 21-second goal for the Flyers in 1976, while Pit Martin scored at 35 seconds for the Blackhawks in 1973. Henri Richard of the Canadiens notched his goal at 36 seconds in 1959, and Dick Duff of the Maple Leafs added one at 49 seconds in 1963. The most recent player ahead of Draisaitl is Ralph Backstrom, who scored at the 62-second mark for the Blackhawks in 1973.
Draisaitl's goal now stands as the fastest to open a Game 1 in the Stanley Cup Final in over 40 years.
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What makes Draisaitl's goal even more significant is that he didn't score during last year's Stanley Cup Final. The Oilers lost that series to the Panthers in seven games. His early goal this time around could signal a shift in momentum as Edmonton looks to settle the score.
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