What's wrong with Connor McDavid? Absolutely, positively nothing

Cult of Hockey

Revealed Apr 20, 2023 • Final up to date 5 hours in the past • 6 minute learn

Connor McDavid (97) of the Edmonton Oilers, chases Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings into the nook at Rogers Place in Edmonton on April 19, 2023. Photograph by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia

Oilers centre Leon Draisaitl has gone supernova thus far in these 2023 playoffs.

Connor McDavid? Not a lot.

The truth is, some Oilers followers are questioning if there may be one thing mistaken with the Oilers captain, on condition that he’s acquired only one help in two video games towards the Los Angeles Kings, this after averaging virtually two factors per recreation within the common season. McDavid has been shut out for factors at even power.

Worse, he has did not create a lot on the assault there both, making main contributions to simply 4 Grade A pictures within the two video games, an common of simply 1.15 main contributions to Grade A pictures per quarter-hour of ES ice time, this after averaging 3.61 per 15 ES within the common season.

In different phrases, his scoring probability depend at even power is down by greater than two thirds in comparison with the common season.

Examine that to Draisaitl, who has three targets and two assists in 5 video games, with 11 main contributions to Grade A pictures at even power.

So what’s mistaken with McDavid?

Completely, positively nothing.

Simply to fulfill myself on this matter, I rewatched and reviewed all his shifts from the primary two video games. I questioned if the Kings had been as much as one thing particular towards McDavid, or if there have been indicators his recreation wasn’t fairly proper.

Two issues prevented McDavid from scoring extra at even power in these two video games: first, some wonderful defence from sensible, artful and agile Kings defenders, particularly the highest two d-man pairings of Drew Doughty and Mikey Anderson, Matt Roy and Vladislav Gavrikov; second, some atrocious puck luck.

The Kings aren’t doing something particular towards McDavid. Nobody is shadowing his each foot step. They’re not hooking, holding and bashing him at each flip, as that may be a harmful tactic given the may of the Oilers energy play. As a substitute, they’re taking part in sturdy group defence which sees McDavid usually skating right into a thicket of gamers as he makes an attempt to get near the L.A. internet.

The Kings most frequently put out the road of Phillip Danault, Viktor Arvidsson and Trevor Moore towards McDavid. All three are sensible, diligent defenders. On one three-on-two rush within the second interval in Recreation Two, for instance, McDavid was main the push and about to do some harm when Arvidsson charged again and knocked the puck off his stick.

As for the d-men, they’re usually of the kind that give McDavid essentially the most bother. They’re not Massive Bobbly Clobbers, however are extra alongside the strains of Marc-Edouard Vlasic, circa 2017, or Josh Morrissey, or Cale Makar on defence, all agile, all sensible, all capable of stick to McDavid and maintain him to the skin, whilst he shifts into his highest gear. Roy is a contact much less fast on his skates than the opposite three, however all can stick to McDavid on the push.

That stated, they will’t get him each time, as seen by McDavid’s good rush in Recreation One, the place he blasted by means of three Kings defenders and would doubtless have scored if not for Anderson grabbing maintain as he charged on previous.

After which there’s the puck luck. On a variety of events, McDavid has had nice seems to be from the slot and he’s missed the web. Or McDavid has arrange his teammates, corresponding to Evan Bouchard in Recreation One, and so they’ve missed the web on open pictures.

When he has hit the web, Kings goalie Joonas Korpisalo has made a handful of wonderful saves, together with on a two-on-one break early within the second interval of Recreation Two, then on a break-in probability early within the third. Or Korpisalo has thwarted gamers that McD has arrange, corresponding to Evander Kane within the third interval of Recreation Two.

One of many defining performs of sequence so far, McDavid’s turnover that ignited the L.A. comeback in Recreation One is indicative of McD’s puck luck woes. Early within the third interval, with the Oilers up by two targets, McDavid used his physique to protect off Roy, settle for a cross from Nurse, and get a partial break down the left wing in the direction of the web. Simply then, Draisaitl steamed up the center of the ice, with solely Gavrikov defending the 2 of them. As he’s finished tons of of occasions, as a substitute of taking pictures, McDavid elected to attempt to cross to the wide-open Draisaitl. If the cross had related, Draisaitl had a 50/50 probability of scoring. However Gavrikov picked off the cross, kicking off an L.A. rush that ended of their first purpose of the sport.

Afterwards, McDavid took lots of criticism, together with from me, however on reflection, McDavid virtually by no means has that cross picked off, and even when it was, there have been nonetheless three Oilers again to cease a two-man L.A. rush. Draisaitl, Darnell Nurse and Cody Ceci might all have discovered a solution to cease that purpose, as might have goalie Stuart Skinner with a powerful save. However to not be. And McDavid took main warmth.

He did screw up on the play, particularly given the state of affairs, making a cross again within the o-zone whereas his group was nursing a two purpose lead. However I’ve seen far worse errors on far decrease share performs.

Even then McDavid may need put the sport out of attain a couple of minutes later with the Oilers up 3-1. Hyman whipped a cross to him from the boards, hitting McDavid alone in entrance of the Kings internet, along with his again to the goalie. McDavid swiftly and deftly drove on his backhand throughout the crease. He had Korpisalo down. All he needed to do was elevate the puck over the sprawled goalie. However, simply then, as if by Kings silver and black magic, the puck rolled from his stick.

There have been quite a few passes and pictures like this from McDavid and his linemates, all of them only a bit off.

* RNH is large open within the slot however falls simply as he’s about to take the cross.

* McDavid prices round Anderson then inexplicably passes again and turns over the puck.

* McDavid rushes up the ice at full velocity, then looses his edge and his velocity, forcing him to cross again.

That form of factor.

I believe the strain of the Kings defence is making McD and his linemates a bit jumpy at times, a bit rushed.

However these veteran gamers will determine this out. They already are. With all the probabilities he’s been concerned in, McDavid might simply have two or three even power factors proper now. A bounce right here, a shot on internet there, a slip up by Korpisalo is all it will have taken.

He and Evan Bouchard, particularly, look like discovering some chemistry simply now. I count on them to begin combining on scoring performs at even power.

In fact, will probably be no simple matter to unravel these Kings d-men, after which to additionally beat Korpisalo. However simply because the puck can bounce towards you, it will possibly bounce for you.

The targets and assists for McDavid will come.

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