Connor McDavid played a key role in the Edmonton Oilers’ series-tying comeback win against the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday, dishing out three assists. Normally, a multi-point performance from McDavid does not warrant much attention, but the Kings have consistently bottled him up, specifically at even strength.
Two of McDavid’s three assists in Game 4 on Sunday came at 5-on-5 — his first even-strength points of the series. In eight regular-season and playoff games against the Kings in 2022-23, McDavid has three even-strength points — one goal and those two assists.
Through four first-round games, the Oilers have carried play with McDavid on the ice at 5-on-5. Shots on net are 46-35 in Edmonton’s favour, including 20-12 from the slot.
Goals, however, are even at three apiece. The Oilers scored all three of theirs in Game 4 with McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the ice together against Anze Kopitar, Adrian Kempe and Quinton Byfield. McDavid has yet to crack Phillip Danault, who has been in charge of guarding him, along with linemates Trevor Moore and Viktor Arvidsson.
Individually, McDavid is doing his part to help create offence at 5-on-5, completing eight of his 15 slot passes and generating six slot shots on net of his own. Goaltender Joonas Korpisalo has been excellent for Los Angeles, saving 2.26 goals above expected in 212:41 of 5-on-5 playing time. That is out of McDavid’s hands.
The Kings’ 1-3-1 neutral-zone forecheck has made it more difficult for McDavid to attack the net with speed, which is when he is at his most dangerous. McDavid has three scoring chances off the rush in four games at 5-on-5, and the Oilers have seven as a team with their captain on the ice. McDavid, however, weaved through a maze of Kings defenders in setting up Evander Kane’s game-tying goal Sunday.
As the series returns to Edmonton for Game 5 on Tuesday, the Oilers’ best bet might be to keep McDavid and Draisaitl on the same line. With the benefit of last change, they can isolate and wear down Danault or Kopitar, the latter of whom had a hard time handling the Oilers’ souped-up top line on Sunday. The Oilers outshot the Kings 12-10 (8-6 from the slot) when their top two scorers were on the ice.
It was only a matter of time before McDavid broke through offensively at 5-on-5. If that continues, the Kings are in trouble.
“It’s not like they weren’t doing lots of good things. They were. It just didn’t go in the net for them,” Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft told reporters Sunday, discussing the play of his star players. “I see a lot of our players all around it. We have a belief that if you do things harder and longer than the opposition that eventually you get rewarded.”
All stats from Sportlogiq
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