The Oilers are so much more than just Connor McDavid
The primary story by way of the primary 4 video games of the Battle of Alberta — and the whole NHL postseason, actually — has been the sensible play of Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid.
The 25-year-old has been merely unstoppable, seemingly creating Grade-A scoring possibilities each time he hits the ice. His 25 factors could be a formidable whole for a participant whose workforce went the complete distance within the playoffs, but he has managed to take action in simply 11 video games.
What he’s doing has many suggesting he isn’t solely the very best participant on the planet proper now, however already top-of-the-line to ever play the sport. Like many groups, he is left the Flames fully perplexed in relation to defending him. Matthew Tkachuk was fast to trace after a Recreation 3 loss that McDavid was basically the only cause that they had fallen behind within the collection.
“They’ve obtained one participant that performs half the sport and is taking part in some nice hockey proper now,” Tkachuk instructed reporters.
Tkachuk’s teammate in Rasmus Andersson echoed these sentiments, implying that the Flames let “one man” (McDavid) dominate the sport.
Whereas the Oilers captain has undoubtedly been sensible, he’s removed from the one cause this Edmonton squad finds itself only one recreation away from a Convention Finals berth.
As we’re all beginning to discover out, there’s much more to this workforce than simply the good No. 97.
Regardless of reportedly coming into the collection with a high-ankle sprain, Leon Draisaitl has managed two objectives and 13 factors by way of 4 video games on this collection up to now, two extra factors than McDavid’s 11. In Recreation 3, Draisaitl actually put his mark on these playoffs, if he hadn’t already, changing into the primary participant in NHL historical past to document 4 assists in a single playoff interval.
Three of these apples had been buried by Evander Kane, who’s Recreation 3 hat trick has and pair of tallies in Recreation 4 has him at 5 objectives and 6 factors within the 4 video games, whereas Zach Hyman has additionally put the puck at the back of the online on 5 events whereas changing into a nightmare for the Flames on the forecheck. Rounding out the Oilers’ terrific offense is Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who’s two objectives in Recreation 4 had been important in Edmonton securing the 3-1 collection lead.
It begs the query that when Tkachuk and Andersson are saying one participant is thrashing them, which participant are they speaking about? Not solely are the 4 non-McDavid forwards talked about above outplaying any of the Flames’ high stars, however Jacob Markstrom is definitely getting outdueled in internet by Mike Smith, too. Outdoors of a tough Recreation 1 displaying, and an excellent bizarre aim in opposition to in Recreation 4, Smith has given his workforce an opportunity to win the previous three video games, whereas the identical can’t be stated of the Vezina candidate on the different finish of the ice.
So far as the blue traces for every workforce go, the Oilers have defended effectively other than Recreation 1, whereas the Flames’ back-end has appeared disorganized and somewhat sluggish compared to the Oilers’ artistic and speedy ahead group.
What’s even scarier about this Oilers bunch proper now’s that it isn’t simply these previous 4 video games that they’ve put up numbers. They’d loads of offensive success within the opening spherical in opposition to the Los Angeles Kings as effectively, and have three gamers in McDavid, Draisaitl and Kane who’re first, second and fourth amongst all gamers in postseason factors — whereas Kane’s 12 objectives ranks first.
In the meantime for the Flames, Gaudreau’s 13 factors rank him eighth in playoff scoring, and Tkachuk’s 10 are tied with a number of gamers, together with Nugent-Hopkins, for thirteenth.
As for the goaltenders, Smith’s .931 save proportion ranks fourth amongst all goaltenders who’ve appeared in two or extra video games. Whereas he has given up some irritating objectives on this postseason, he has been very stable for probably the most half and significantly better than Markstrom, who’s .906 SV% is available in at twelfth.
Merely put, if the Flames have any hope of coming again on this collection, they should start to respect the truth that their opposition is excess of simply McDavid. In the event that they focus particularly on attempting to restrict simply him, the Oilers have loads of different weapons who’ve, and can proceed to make them pay.
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