For some reason, the hockey world has yet to see Connor McDavid play in a Stanley Cup Final.
But after eight straight seasons without a Finals appearance, McDavid, the Edmonton Oilers and their fans finally got their chance when Edmonton clinched a spot in the Finals with a 2-1 win over the Dallas Stars in Game 6 on Sunday.
McDavid has been the best player in the NHL since he entered the league in 2016. After establishing himself with 48 points in 45 games as a rookie, he had eight outstanding regular seasons, scoring 100 or more points in every season except for the COVID-19-shortened 2019-20 season.
The Oilers captain has won nearly every trophy in the NHL, most of them multiple times. He leads the league in statistics and has scored an incredible number of highlight goals, but he's always come up short when it matters most: the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
until now.
McDavid carried the team on his back in the playoffs, especially in this series against Dallas, leading all skaters with 31 points (five goals, 26 assists) in 18 games and was involved in six of Edmonton's eight goals as the Oilers won their fourth straight game in the Western Conference Finals.
Oh, and he did this in Game 6:
McDavid was as serious as ever after the Game 6 victory. The 27-year-old will have a chance to play in the Finals and only one goal on his mind: winning the Cup.
“We got it done, and that's what really matters,” he told NHL.com. “We're going to bounce back from tonight's game.”
Frank Seravalli: His time with this Oilers team has been all about work. There is no part of him that he isn't focused or ready for. Between wearing the same suit for three straight games, winning three straight games, and scoring a goal like this… this guy is not one to give up. And that's probably the scariest thing for the Florida Panthers. This is the closest the Oilers have come to winning. And now they have a chance to do something truly great and put their name next to the legends.
Tyler Yaremchuk: Yes, there will be another banner hanging at Rogers Place.
You can watch the full episode here:
