Draisaitl performing on 'another level' for Oilers in playoffs

EDMONTON --Leon Draisaitl is earning the right to be called the best in the world.

The Edmonton Oilers forward has scored 13 goals so far in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the most through the first eight games of a playoff year since Jari Kurri did it for the Oilers in 1985. The record is 15 by Newsy Lalonde, who did it for the Montreal Canadiens in 1919.

Draisaitl is six goals behind the playoff record, which is shared by Kurri (1985) and Reggie Leach of the Philadelphia Flyers (1976). He is also the first player in NHL postseason history to score six goals through the first two games of a series, scoring four in a 6-4 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 1 of the Western Conference Second Round, and two in a 5-1 win in Game 2.

If there were still any questions regarding his play, just ask Connor McDavid, who was effusive with his praise of Draisaitl following Game 2 on Saturday.

"He's playing on another level and I'm not sure why anyone would be surprised at this point," McDavid said. "He's the best player in the world on a lot of nights, and he's showing that on a regular basis. Like he talked about, we're here for a lot more than just scoring goals and putting up points. That's not what it's about at all, that's not what we're doing here. We're just part of the piece, that's all."

The Oilers and Golden Knights are tied 1-1 in the best-of-7 series entering Game 3 at Rogers Place on Monday (8:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, CBC, SN, TVAS).

"You just get ready for the next one," Draisaitl said. "I think it's a cliché and everyone will say it, but that's just the way it is. That's the way we work. That's the way every player in this league works. You do your part and try to do it as good as you can every night. You move on and get ready for Game 3."

RELATED: [Complete Golden Knights vs. Oilers series coverage]

Draisaitl leads the NHL this postseason with 17 points, two ahead of McDavid (five goals, 10 assists) and Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk (five goals, 10 assists). He had 32 points (seven goals, 25 assists) in 16 playoff games last season, when he played through a high ankle sprain he sustained in Game 6 of the first round against the Los Angeles Kings.

"Look where his name is in terms of playoff performances amongst the greats in the game," Edmonton coach Jay Woodcroft said Sunday. "What he's doing is special, but it's not his first time. Last year, he did some things on one leg. I saw him much earlier in his career put up some really good numbers as well during a playoff run (six goals, 10 assists in 13 games in 2017). Surprised? No, more appreciative.

"I think Leon is the modern version of what a power forward at the top of his game looks like. He's a huge man (6-foot-4, 208 pounds), but he has unbelievable skills, and he plays the game with a measure of physicality. That's the modern day power forward. We're lucky we have him."

Draisaitl was second in the regular season with 128 points (52 goals, 76 assists), behind McDavid's 153 (64 goals, 89 assists). It was the fourth time in his nine seasons he has surpassed the 100-point mark, and the third time he has scored at least 50 goals.

"The scary part with Connor and Leon is they're only going to get better," Hall of Fame defenseman Paul Coffey said. "They're getting experience now. The game will come to them between their ears easier, so they won't try to do as much. I don't know if you can put a gain mark on that. That's just experience."

The Oilers defeated the Kings and Calgary Flames in the first two rounds of the playoffs last season to reach the Western Conference Final for the first time since 2006 before being swept by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche. Edmonton also advanced to the second round this season after eliminating Los Angeles in six games.

"At this point, nothing surprises me what (Draisaitl) does," Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard said Saturday. "Putting in another two, it's 13 in eight games, and that's something that doesn't happen very often, and it doesn't surprise me that he's doing it."

Draisaitl and McDavid are trying to help the Oilers win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1990. They lost in the Final in 2006 in seven games to the Carolina Hurricanes.

"He's been phenomenal in terms of his finishing ability and burying his chances and just carrying us, especially in that first game, offensively," Oilers forward Evander Kane said. "When he's playing like that and when we get other contributions up and down the lineup, we're a tough team to beat."