Kris Knoblauch, head coach of the Edmonton Oilers, remains unfazed by Leon Draisaitl's consistent high level of play, stating it's simply what he's come to expect. This sentiment comes after Draisaitl's near-miss in a recent game against the New York Islanders, where his shot hit the post in the final seconds of the game, preventing a potential tie.

The Oilers ultimately lost to the Islanders 1-0, despite outshooting them 35-17. Goaltender Ilya Sorokin's stellar performance, securing his league-leading fifth shutout of the season, further contributed to the Oiler's defeat. Connor Ingram, the Oiler's goalie, put up a strong performance with 17 saves but was ultimately outdueled.

Knoblauch, however, maintained a positive outlook, focusing on the team's overall performance and decision-making. He humorously remarked on Draisaitl's shot, suggesting the angle was "too good," given Draisaitl's history of scoring from that area. "The puck might have gone in if his skates were behind the goal line," Knoblauch said with a smile. "He has scored so many goals from that area and he just got unlucky".

Draisaitl, known for his offensive prowess, has been a key player for the Oilers. In the 2022-23 season, he tied Nikita Kucherov for the second spot on the single-season scoring leaderboard since the turn of the century, amassing 52 goals and 76 assists for a total of 128 points.

Recently, Draisaitl returned to the lineup after a three-game absence, reclaiming his spot on the second line and the top power-play unit. Before his brief leave, Draisaitl had been on a tear, accumulating 36 points (10 goals, 26 assists) in his previous 21 games. This season, Draisaitl has 25 goals and 67 points in 48 appearances.

Knoblauch's composed reaction to the near-miss and the team's loss reflects his confidence in Draisaitl's abilities and the team's overall potential. Despite the defeat, Knoblauch praised his team's performance against a disciplined Islanders team. The Oilers, with a record of 23-17-8, are set to face the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena, and Knoblauch's focus remains on the team's continued effort and execution.

The game against the Islanders also marked the end of Connor McDavid's 20-game point streak. McDavid had recorded 46 points (19 goals, 27 assists) since December 4, joining Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey as the only Oilers players to achieve a point streak of at least 20 games. Draisaitl's shot, had it gone in, would have extended McDavid's streak to 21 games.

While the Oilers are working to improve their discipline and avoid unnecessary penalties, as highlighted by Draisaitl and Knoblauch after a previous game, the focus remains on leveraging their strengths and maintaining a consistent level of play. Knoblauch's expectations for Draisaitl remain high, a testament to the player's established performance and importance to the team's success.