‘Everyone has another level, myself included’: Oilers’ McDavid on performance in Stanley Cup Final so far
The Edmonton Oilers are facing a similar tale that they saw last season, being the first team to face elimination in the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers.
It has been a tough series, with the teams trading wins in both northern Alberta and South Florida. However, the Oilers have been finding themselves playing catchup for most of the first five games of the series, including having to erase a 3-0 deficit to win Game 4 last week.
Edmonton’s slow starts hurt them in Game 5 on home ice, as they went down 2-0 in the opening period. This time, they failed to come back, losing 5-2, falling behind in the series 3-2 as they return to Sunrise for a do-or-die sixth game.
Captain Connor McDavid recognizes that he and the rest of his team have another gear and that they need to show it to stay alive.
“I think everybody has another level,” McDavid told the media on Monday. “Myself included.”
The Oilers have done a solid job of bouncing back from tough losses throughout the playoffs, winning Game 4 after suffering an embarrassing 6-1 loss in the previous contest.
“For whatever reason, our group doesn’t like to make it easy on ourselves. [We] put ourselves in another difficult spot and it;s our job to work our way out of it, and I would expect that tomorrow.”
McDavid has still found a way to be productive against the Panthers’ forceful attack, posting six points in the first five games of the series. Yet, he’s only found the back of the net himself once thus far, that coming in Game 5 this past Saturday.
The Richmond Hill, Ontario native says, with the Oilers having made it to at least the second round in each of the past four postseasons, the goal of winning the Stanley Cup continues to drive him, despite the emotional and physical wear and tear of the playoffs.
“There’s lots of motivation. Lots of excitement. … Two teams that know what it’s like to play in this intensity, in this environment at this time of the year. It’s fun. It’s what it’s all about.”
One player who arguably doesn’t need to find another level on the Oilers roster is Leon Draisaitl. The reigning Rocket Richard Trophy winner has four goals and four assists, and is a candidate to take home the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. It’s the same award McDavid won last year despite the Oilers losing to the Panthers in a wild seven-game series.
Game 6 is set for Tuesday night inside Amerant Bank Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.