The two Oilers skaters connected when Samanski found Draisaitl with a beautiful backhand pass for one of his trademark one-timers on the power play under four minutes into the opening frame, wiring home from the right side past France netminder Julian Junca that opened things up for Germany.
“Everybody knows how good a passer — not even a passer — how good a player he is,” Samanski said. “I’m trying to find an area where he can lay into it. He’s done it a few times this tournament, but I haven’t really scored on the opportunities he has given me. It’s crazy what he sees on the ice.”
Draisaitl’s 1,036 points for the Edmonton Oilers are by far the most by any German player on their roster at Milano Cortina 2026, and this was a historic individual performance for his nation on the international stage, but the superstar affirmed that it’s all about the team as they look to compete for a medal.
“I’m thinking about wanting to compete for a medal with our group,” Draisaitl said. “If the legacy filters into that, then sure, I’ll take it. But this is a special time. We’ve got a great opportunity.”
Germany finished with three goals in the first period and concluded the contest 2-for-3 on the power play, including Samanski’s first goal of the tournament at 7:01 of the third period that lifted his nation into a 4-1 lead after Pierre-Edouard Bellemare got France on the board in the middle frame.