GENE'S BLOG: The return of L50N

Fifty goals for the second time in his career and 100 points for a third time.
Seventh player in Edmonton Oilers history with three of more 100-point seasons
Fourth Oilers player to hit 50 goals in two or more seasons, joining Wayne Gretzky (eight), Jari Kurri (four) and Glenn Anderson (two).
Third active NHLer with multiple 50-goal seasons, joining Alex Ovechkin and Steven Stamkos.
Second player to reach 100 points this season, joining teammate Connor McDavid.
A few stats and numbers to quantify and qualify what kind of night Sunday was for Leon Draisaitl and what kind of season it has been for the Deutschland Dangler.
There is something sexy about hitting the 50-goal mark. It's always been a special milestone in the game. However, the less players who achieve it and the more rare it is, the more it takes on a mythical magic. From the first time anyone hit the plateau (Maurice Richard with Montreal in 1944-45), it has turned into a number that associates itself with the greatest goal scorers in the game, and you can count Draisaitl in that group as he's now fired home 50 in 2018-19 and 2021-22.

Before we get to the goal, let's not forget that on the way to 50 he first hit the 100-point plateau last night in Anaheim for the third time in his career. No small feat in itself and one not to be glossed over because it's also a number that immediately pops off the page.
The milestones didn't come without some drama as his 100th point and 50th goal didn't happen until the third period. The goal itself came from another one of those nearly impossible angles after a perfect pass from newly-acquired defenceman Brett Kulak.
He finished the one-timer with one knee on the ice, his stick in the air on the follow-through, followed by both gloves, then a smile and celebration on the final goal of the night.
Many watching the game were skeptical Leon would even make it to the third period after he slammed into Trevor Zegras and the end boards late in the opening frame. It was an immediate impact that caught the attention of Draisaitl, and it wasn't the Duck in a fowl mood but the Oilers leading goal scorer.

He looked like he was in some trouble. Shaking his leg, wearing a look of concern as he tried to skate it off and hobbled with a slight limp into the Oilers dressing room after one period of play. I'm not sure what the odds were, but if you asked every fan of the team who suddenly sped through med school and was playing the role of a doctor, it seemed unlikely he would be out for period number two.
Thankfully, we were wrong. There he was still grimacing, looking frustrated, but playing through the pain. Whatever was hurting the German, it was a long way from his heart as he plowed through the discomfort to lead with inspiration through the rest of the game.
Head Coach Jay Woodcroft referred to the injury as a "bruise" in his post-game comments and Leon said "don't worry about me" when I asked him shortly after the victory.
Sportsnet play-by-play man Jack Michaels called Draisaitl a tank and he rolled over anything in his way to hit those two milestones on Sunday. Congratulations to Leon!