Oilers' Connor McDavid Electrifies NHL Fans with Goal in 2OT to Win Game 1 vs. Stars
May 24, 2024
DALLAS, TEXAS - MAY 23: Zach Hyman #18 celebrates with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins #93 of the Edmonton Oilers after Hyman's goal against the Dallas Stars during the second period in Game One of the Western Conference Final of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center on May 23, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
The Edmonton Oilers have a 1-0 lead in the Western Conference Final after besting the Dallas Stars 3-2 in a double-overtime thriller Thursday night thanks to Connor McDavid's game-winner.
The Oilers took a 1-0 lead after Leon Draisaitl scored in the second period, and Zach Hyman gave Edmonton some insurance shortly after. Dallas responded in the second to cut into the deficit after a goal from Tyler Seguin.
The Oilers held a 2-1 lead for much of the third period, but Seguin scored with less than four minutes to play to send it to overtime.
The Stars got a four-minute power play after McDavid was called for high-sticking, but Dallas couldn't capitalize despite having five shots on goal, including two shots that hit the post.
After neither team could win it in the first overtime, McDavid ended the game in the first minute of double OT.
What a win. Incredible. Perfect pass by Bouchard and Mcdavid buries. That’s what you truly great ones do they make a mistake and they respond. We got home ice advantage and just won a game because of the number 1 PK left in the playoffs. 3 five on 5 goals #LetsGoOilers
McDavid had been quiet, going scoreless over the previous five games, but he delivered for his team to give Edmonton a crucial lead in the series.
After Thursday's marathon, the teams will face off in Game 2 in Dallas on Saturday. Both teams are looking to snap Stanley Cup Final droughts as the Stars haven't had an appearance since 1999, while the Oilers haven't been since 1990.
With both teams more than two decades removed from their last Stanley Cup Final appearance, the emotions will be high throughout the series.
Connor McDavid and the Oilers Flip the Script as Edmonton Returns to Conference Final
May 21, 2024
It's an annual thing for the hockey-writing types.
The Edmonton Oilers post-mortem.
At some point every spring, usually right around now, nimble fingers set keyboards ablaze in search of the perfect words to sum up abject disappointment.
Another season in the tank.
One step closer to the end of what should be a great era in franchise history that's instead begun climbing the ladder of biggest flops in NHL history.
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. With scores of trophies and plaudits between them, they're commonly mentioned among the most productive players the league has seen.
And what have they got to show for it? Nothing.
It's an easy column to write. Because the source material seems endless.
Scribes of all shapes and sizes were getting a head start last Thursday when J.T. Miller's last-minute dagger ended Game 5 and pushed 97, 29 and their crew of motley teammates to the brink of another premature locker purge.
EDMONTON, CANADA - MAY 18: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers takes a shot against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period of Game Six in the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on May 18, 2024 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)
But a funny thing happened on the way to this year's funeral.
Rather than bemoaning cursed fate and folding their blue-and-orange tents, the Oilers showed some new colors. Gritty, determined, rugged colors.
In place of Peter Max's pop psychedelia, think of Van Gogh's "Shoes."
And instead of a busted Cup run, make way for a McDavid masterpiece.
Maybe.
Though the Dallas Stars in the West and either the New York Rangers or Florida Panthers back East will suggest otherwise, it's hard to argue that clearing the Vancouver hurdle provides the three-time MVP and five-time scoring champion with his clearest path to a title since Edmonton made him the top pick in a paradigm-shifting 2015 draft.
Mainly because of the way it was done.
Though a 5-1 score in a must-win Game 6 reeked of video game dominance, it was the residue of a workmanlike effort in which the Oilers outhit the Canucks by 11 (49-38), snuffed four power plays—including a five-on-three early in the third period—and scored each of their own goals at even strength.
The trend continued through Monday's Game 7, when Edmonton peppered Arturs Silovs early, killed a four-minute power play to end the first, and worked its low-danger defensive set while getting just enough offense to win.
VANCOUVER, CANADA - MAY 20: Zach Hyman #18 celebrates Evan Bouchard #2 of the Edmonton Oilers goal during the second period in Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on May 20, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
Blue-liner Cody Ceci and blue-collar forward Zach Hyman were among the heroes, each scoring at even strength in a three-goal second period in which the Oilers also blocked nine shots and delivered six hits.
No longer are the stars writing checks that the depth players can't cash.
"We hung in there. I was very proud of the group," McDavid told Sportsnet after Game 7. "We defended well. We played two really great defensive games. I'm really proud of our game."
The payoff is McDavid's second career final-four try, which he and the Oilers will begin with Games 1 and 2 at Dallas before the Stars head to northern Alberta next week.
The teams played three times in the regular season with Dallas winning a 4-3 nod at Edmonton as the Jay Woodcroft administration wound down, then splitting the final two meetings—a 4-3 OT win for the Oilers in February and a 5-0 rout for the Stars in April.
Remember, Vancouver was 4-0 against Edmonton with a 21-7 scoring split in the regular season, but scored just 20 times in the seven-game loss.
Perhaps the law of averages will even out, too, given Edmonton's edges in shots in two of the games with Dallas and a paltry 1-of-12 for a power play that's been working at lights-out efficiency for most of the postseason.
Dallas was just 64.3 percent effective in short-handed situations against Colorado, the worst of any team in a second-round series. And its 69.2 percent rate for the entire playoffs is 13th of the 16 teams that qualified and worst of any team still playing.
Edmonton, meanwhile, has scored on a league-best 37.5 percent of its opportunities through two rounds, and its 91.4 percent kill rate is also best in the postseason.
VANCOUVER, BC - MAY 20: Edmonton Oilers right wing Connor Brown (28) and Vancouver Canucks defenseman Carson Soucy (7) shown having a scuffle during Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs between the Edmonton Oilers and the Vancouver Canucks on May 20, 2024, at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, B.C. (Photo by Jamie Douglas/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The grimy Oilers are getting to the hard areas, winning the 50/50 battles, and making smart decisions.
And it's not as if the Stars have looked impenetrable overall either.
They were forced to go seven games to eliminate Vegas in Round 1 after losing the first two at home, and then dropped the home opener again in Round 2 against the Avalanche before rallying to finish things off in a double-OT sixth game.
Those optics make it a more winnable proposition than McDavid and Co.'s last visit to the Western final when they faced a Colorado juggernaut that had gone 8-2 through two series while sweeping Nashville and dusting St. Louis off in six.
The Avalanche won that series in four straight on the way to a Cup, though the Oilers were close in Games 1 and 3 before surrendering empty-netters and the decisive fourth went to OT before Artturi Lehkonen beat Mike Smith after Edmonton blew a two-goal lead with 12 minutes left in regulation.
Those Oilers weren't ready.
These Oilers aren't backing down.
And with an artist like McDavid finally playing meaningful games, there's no telling how vibrant his colors might get.
Enjoy the show.
Oilers Hold Off Canucks in Game 7 Win, Get Love from NHL Fans After Reaching WCF
May 21, 2024
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - MAY 20: Cody Ceci #5 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates with teammates after his goal during the second period in Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Arena on May 20, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
The Edmonton Oilers are advancing to the Western Conference finals after holding off a late push to win Game 7 against the Vancouver Cunucks 3-2 Monday night.
The Oilers secured all three of their goals in the second period with the first coming from Cody Ceci. Zach Hyman then scored on a tip-in before Ryan Nugent-Hopkins put another through the net to give Edmonton a comfortable 3-0 lead heading into the final period.
With the insurance of three goals heading into the third, the Canucks two goals in the final period weren't enough.
After the win, fans praised Edmonton for advancing to its second conference finals in three years.
With the win on Monday, the Oilers will now advance to face the Dallas Stars with a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals on the line. The Stars moved on after beating the Colorado Avalanche in six games.
Edmonton is looking to earn its first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals since 2006 when it lost to the Carolina Hurricanes.
With a clearly high-powered offense, the Oilers seem capable of a big showing against the Stars, but a major point of emphasis will be on the defensive side of things as Dallas also boasts a strong offense. Edmonton's offense was enough to get the win on Monday, but it will need to step things up with the added intensity of the Western Conference finals.
Connor McDavid, Oilers Excite NHL Fans with Dominant Win vs. Canucks to Force Game 7
May 19, 2024
EDMONTON, CANADA - MAY 18: Evan Bouchard #2 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates his second-period goal against the Vancouver Canucks with Connor McDavid #97 in Game Six of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on May 18, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
The Vancouver Canucks had the chance to eliminate Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers from the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a Game 6 road win Saturday night.
The Oilers outshot, outscored and outplayed them instead.
Edmonton dominated in a 5-1 victory that tied the conference semifinals series at three games apiece, forcing a winner-takes-all Game 7 at Rogers Arena Monday night.
A+ performance by the Oilers and Oilers fans tonight. The Game 7 we deserve
The tally made Hyman the sixth player in Oilers history to score 10 goals in one postseason.
The Oilers went on to tally four consecutive goals to close out the victory, with the fifth strike coming as fans belted out the lyrics to Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" from the stands:
100 playoff points in 60 games for Leon Draisaitl. He's second in all time points per game (1.67) in the playoffs with only Wayne Gretzky scoring at a higher rate (1.84)
Saturday's victory will allow McDavid, Draisaitl and the Oilers to continue fighting for a reteurn to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2022.
The winner of Game 7 will earn the chance to face the Dallas Stars in the third round. The puck drops in Vancouver at 9:00 p.m. ET.
Evan Bouchard's Late Goal Wows NHL Fans as McDavid, Oilers Beat Canucks, Tie Series
May 15, 2024
EDMONTON, CANADA - MAY 12: Evan Bouchard #2 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates his third-period goal against the Vancouver Canucks with his teammates in Game Three of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on May 12, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
You won't see a much more dramatic finish than what the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers just authored in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals on Tuesday night.
The Canucks looked as though they had forced overtime after Brock Boeser scored with just a little over a minute remaining, leveling the game 2-2.
But Evan Bouchard's goal with just 39 seconds remaining provided Edmonton with a much-needed answer, giving the team a 3-2 win that leveled the series at two games apiece.
I love that #Pickard's parents got to see him get a win in his first ever playoff game for the #oilers What an exciting ending to the game!!#GoCanucksGo
It looked as though the Oilers were going to win this one comfortably, as Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had them out 2-0 heading into the third period.
Conor Garland halved the deficit in the third period before Boeser appeared to force overtime, only for the fireworks that followed.
It was a big night for goalie Calvin Pickard, who stopped 19 of the 21 shots he faced. For an Oilers team who had given up 12 goals in the first three games and made the change from Stuart Skinner to Pickard ahead of Game 4, it was a huge performance.
It was also a brave decision, as Pickard had never started a Stanley Cup Playoff game before Tuesday night.
"All you can ask for is an opportunity in the Stanley Cup Playoffs."
Pickard, who came into the third period of Game 3 and stopped all three shots he faced, has seemed to stabilize the Oilers. And given the team's offensive superstars, led by Connor McDavid (one assist Tuesday), Edmonton doesn't need its goalie to be the second coming of Patrick Roy to win games.
On Tuesday night, he did just enough to keep the Oilers in position to steal a win. That was all the opening Bouchard needed to provide the heroics that followed.
Connor McDavid, Carson Soucy Fight on Video Has NHL Fans Calling for Suspensions
May 13, 2024
EDMONTON, ALBERTA - MAY 12: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers gets crosschecked in the neck and back by Carson Soucy #7 and Nikita Zadorov #91 of the Vancouver Canucks during the third period in Game Three of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on May 12, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Paul Swanson/NHLI via Getty Images)
The NHL faced calls to suspend Vancouver Canucks defenseman Carson Soucy for his cross-check to the face of Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid.
Moments after the final horn sounded in the Canucks' 4-3 win, McDavid and Soucy got into it behind the net. McDavid slashed Soucy on the right leg, which prompted Vancouver defenseman Nikita Zadorov to cross-check him in the back. As he was falling, the Oilers forward caught Soucy's stick to the face.
The referees penalized Soucy for cross-checking — he was the only player to receive a penalty from the incident — but that was not the only discipline he received. He was ultimately suspended by the league for Game 4.
That ruling comes after plenty of fans on social media lobbied for him to miss Game 4 on Tuesday at a minimum.
Watching this a ton, none of it looks good. Starts with the 2-hand slash from McDavid & then cross checks from Soucy/Z. I’m sure this will get looked at by the league. My opinion? Soucy intends to cross check him in the chest, but the Zadorov cross-check knocks 97 down & Soucy… https://t.co/RlRDf0wSd5
Soucy may argue he didn't intend to cross-check McDavid in the face. He was moving his stick almost instantaneously as Zadorov shoved the three-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner. McDavid's slash on Soucy's leg shouldn't go unmentioned, either, in terms of initially escalating things.
Zadorov was fined $5,000, which is the maximum amount allowed under the CBA.
Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl's Dominance Stuns NHL Fans as Oilers Top Canucks in OT
May 11, 2024
VANCOUVER, CANADA - MAY 10: Evan Bouchard #2 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates his game winning goal during overtime in Game Two of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on May 10, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
The trio of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard came up huge for the Edmonton Oilers in their 4-3 overtime victory over the Vancouver Canucks in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals to even the series at one game apiece.
Bouchard scored the game-winning goal on an assist from McDavid and Draisaitl less than six minutes into the overtime period.
McDavid and Draisaitl have been unstoppable so far in these playoffs. They scored or assisted on all four goals for the Oilers on Friday night. McDavid's breakaway goal in the third period tied the game at three.
It's getting hard to find enough superlatives to describe what McDavid and Draisaitl have done throughout their playoff careers, but fans and analysts did their best after a heroic effort in Game 2.
McDavid and Draisaitl reach 90 playoff points in 56 games. Only Lemieux (45 GP) and Gretzky (43) did it faster.
Tonight, McDavid, Draisaitl, Ekholm, and Bouchard played 19 minutes together at EV. Shot attempts were 35-6 and scoring chances were 19-2 in favour of Edmonton, as they scored 3 goals and owned a 86 percent xG% in those minutes.
Draisaitl's performance is even more impressive considering he wasn't certain to play in this game. The five-time All-Star was a game-time decision due to an undisclosed injury after he appeared to be in pain on the ice late in Game 1.
This is a continuation of what McDavid and Draisaitl did in the first round. They accounted for 22 points in five games against the Los Angeles Kings. If you add Bouchard's production, that raised the total to 31 points.
In the first two games against the Canucks, McDavid has six points and Draisaitl has five. The Oilers needed a big rebound performance after blowing a 4-1 lead in Game 1. They turned to their stars to get it, and the result was a victory that sends the series back to Edmonton tied 1-1.
The Oilers will look to take control of the series in Game 3 against the Canucks at Rogers Place on Sunday at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Kings Eliminated by Oilers as NHL Fans Hail Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl Dominance
May 2, 2024
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 26: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers takes a shot on goal as Cam Talbot #39 of the Los Angeles Kings blocks the shot during the first period of Game Three of the First Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 26, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
For the third straight season, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl ensured the Los Angeles Kings didn't make it past the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Kings were eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers Thursday night after McDavid and Draisaitl dominated in a 4-3 Game 5 victory.
After Alex Laferriere took advantage of a fortunate carom off the boards to tie the score late in the first period, Blake Lizotte put the Kings ahead in the second.
Los Angeles got to enjoy that lead for fewer than five minutes before Draisaitl took over.
Draisaitl scored twice off assists from McDavid just minutes apart, once on a power-play and another in the seconds after a man advantage expired, in order to give the Oilers back the lead.
McDavid meanwhile made history with his pair of assists, which increased his first-round point total to 12 points (one goal, 11 assists.)
Connor McDavid assisted on both of Leon Draisaitl's goals to boost his totals in the First Round to 1-11—12 (5 GP) and joined an elite list in the process. #StanleyCup
McDavid’s ability to raise his level (somehow) in the playoffs is incredible. Same for Draisaitl. Their career points per game in the playoffs rank 3rd & 4th all-time behind Gretzky & Lemieux. Outrageous that they don’t have a Cup Final appearance. Almost impossible to fathom… https://t.co/0wYhMwhsUq
McDavid's power play orchestration is truly a treat to watch. It's so unique and puts the other team at such a disadvantage because it's a look no other team can create
The Kings will now suffer their third straight first-round exit at the hands of the Oilers, continuing what is now almost a decade of early playoff exits.
Los Angeles has not advanced past the first round since the team won the Stanley Cup in 2014.
It's so funny that for three years in a row the Kings have had to scrap to make the playoffs and their reward is they get to lose to Connor McDavid in round one
The Oilers will meanwhile advance to face the winner of the first-round series between the Vancouver Canucks and Nashville Predators.
Edmonton is hoping to make a deeper run than last year, when they were ousted by the eventual champion Vegas Golden Knights in the second round.
The Canucks hold a 3-2 series advantage, and could win a ticket to face McDavid and Draisaitl if they are able to secure a Game 6 victory Friday night in Nashville.
Oilers Must Target Jordan Eberle for Stanley Cup Push Amid NHL Trade Deadline Rumors
Erik Beaston
Mar 8, 2024
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - FEBRUARY 29: Jordan Eberle #7 of the Seattle Kraken skates during the second period against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Climate Pledge Arena on February 29, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
The Edmonton Oilers already bolstered their roster before the trade deadline, adding coveted forward Adam Henrique and teammate Sam Carrick, both from Anaheim. The Western Conference fifth seed may not be finished, either.
Nor should they be.
Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff reported that the Oilers are in the mix to acquire Seattle Kraken right winger Jordan Eberle if the 33-year-old does not sign an extension with the team.
Believe #Oilers are one of the teams keeping an eye on #SeaKraken and Jordan Eberle situation.
Seattle and Eberle are working on an extension, but it sounds like term is the hang-up. If Seattle doesn't have Eberle signed, he will be moved prior to Friday's deadline.
Eberle has 37 points this season (14 goals, 23 assists) and it is not out of the realm of possibility that he can hit the 50-point threshold. He is seeing the ice for 17:05 per game and since the All-Star break, has pummeled the net to the tune of 34 shots.
If he cannot get a deal done with the Kraken, and the decision is made to make him available for a trade, the Oilers should jump at the opportunity to add him to the mix and solidify the team's top six.
Edmonton has watched their divisional foes and defending Stanley Cup champions the Vegas Golden Knights get better ahead of the deadline by adding top defender Noah Hanifin and a right wing of their own in Anthony Matha.
Adding Eberle provides depth and gives the team an additional threat to score; one that has been ferocious at the net. That Eberle is on an expiring contract and carries a cap hit of $5.5 million makes him more affordable than he would have been with multiple years left on the deal.
Eberle is an excellent stick handler and skater who could immediately upgrade a right side that already includes Zach Hyman, Evander Kane, and Corey Perry, with Derek Ryan expected back shortly.
It is another move, like the additions of Henrique and Carrick, that proves the team is willing to put the pieces around their all-world center, Connor McDavid, and make a run at the postseason and, more importantly, the team's first Stanley Cup since 1990.
Affordable, skilled, and heating up at the right time, Eberle would appear to be a low-risk, high-reward addition to Edmonton that would allow them the opportunity to at least say they made an effort to surround McDavid with talent to maximize his own.
The devil is in the details. Sometimes. Though the NHL's trade deadline headlines are made by high-profile players being shipped to bolster playoff runs, it's…
