Six Without Leon: What the Oilers’ Goal Surge Tells Everyone

Leon Draisaitl was away on personal leave, but the Edmonton Oilers still hung six goals on the board against the Vancouver Canucks to win 6-0. That alone should make people pause. Not because six goals are unheard of in today’s NHL, but because this team has spent years being framed as a two-man operation. Take one of the pillars away, and the assumption has always been that things get dicey fast.

They didn’t last night against Vancouver.

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What we saw wasn’t a fluke night where a few pucks bounced the right way. It was a reminder that the Oilers’ scoring ability runs deeper than the usual talking points. Without Draisaitl, the game didn’t stall. It didn’t tighten up. It opened.

That’s the part worth sitting with.

When Draisaitl’s in the Lineup, the Play Goes Through Him

When Leon is in the lineup, the Oilers’ attack often funnels through him, as it should. He’s earned that status because he’s so skilled. But with him out, the game breathes a little differently. Others have to step up to move pucks more quickly or make decisions faster. Players who might normally defer must grab the moment. And that’s when you learn something real about a roster.

Six goals suggest confidence. The scoring outburst also suggests players who know where their offence is supposed to come from, even when the safety net isn’t there. Last night against the Canucks, defensemen were activating without hesitation. Forwards were attacking space instead of waiting for a perfect setup. Goals that came from motion, pressure, and second efforts—not just a lethal power-play look.

Good to See the Oilers Secondary Scoring Step Up

This is where some fans ask whether Edmonton is at its best only when everything runs through its stars, or stronger when responsibility is shared a little more evenly. Still, there’s no question that the Oilers are better with Draisaitl carrying the mail.

On the plus side, it highlights a maturation process that’s been uneven but very real. This roster has learned how to score in different ways. Off the rush. Off the cycle. From the back end. From players who don’t get their names stitched into national segments every night.

And that will matter come the postseason.

Few Runs Happen with the Lineup that Started the Playoffs

Teams that survive long playoff runs are rarely those that rely on perfect health or perfect deployment. They’re the ones that can lose a major piece and still look dangerous enough that opponents can’t relax.

There’s also a psychological edge here. Scoring six without Draisaitl sends a message inside the room. It tells players they’re trusted. It tells them that the staff believes the system can hold up without relying entirely on elite talent. And it tells the stars—when they return—that they don’t have to do everything themselves.

That’s how pressure eases. That’s how teams stop gripping the stick when games turn tight.

The Oilers Have Chased Balanced Scoring for Many Seasons

The Oilers have chased balance for years. Sometimes it’s been promised. Sometimes it’s been overstated. But games like last night show what’s possible when the lineup spreads the load and plays without waiting for rescue.

Six goals without Draisaitl isn’t a blueprint. It’s a signal that, for a team that’s still searching for the version of itself that can go the distance, that signal matters more than the scoreline ever will.

Related: Zach Hyman Getting a Lot Of Love For Team Canada Fill-In