For the second consecutive year, Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers came agonizingly close to securing the Stanley Cup championship, only to be defeated by the Florida Panthers. Following two demanding playoff runs that ultimately fell short, McDavid spoke about his struggle to find answers for the outcome.
Despite any potential criticism regarding his performance in the Final series, McDavid has now delivered two exceptional postseasons for the Oilers in succession. His 33 points this year tied teammate Leon Draisaitl for the playoff scoring lead, marking 10 more points than the next closest player, Sam Reinhart.
Perhaps the most painful aspect of this series for the Oilers was how it concluded. With a crucial Game 5 on home ice and then an opportunity to force a winner-take-all Game 7, also in Edmonton, the team significantly faltered in the final two contests. Edmonton was outscored 10-3 across Games 5 and 6, as the Panthers` determined defense effectively neutralized McDavid and his linemates.
As the series progressed, Florida`s defensive structure and forechecking relentlessly suffocated Edmonton`s offensive attempts, shift after shift. McDavid voiced his frustration regarding the Oilers` apparent inability to adapt to the strategies the Panthers were employing.
Reflecting on Florida`s play, McDavid stated:
“Obviously, their forecheck was great. They tilted the rink. They were able to kind of stay on top of us all over the place. Never really able to generate any momentum up the ice. Kept trying the same things over and over again, banging our heads against the wall. Credit to them. They played well.”
Another significant advantage for the Panthers, which became increasingly evident as the series went on, was their exceptional roster depth. Florida was able to effectively deploy three forward lines that consistently impacted play in all three zones. This level of depth wasn`t something Edmonton could match, as the Oilers were notably top-heavy, a challenge compounded by the loss of Zach Hyman earlier in the conference finals.
McDavid acknowledged the quality of their opponent`s roster, saying:
“They have great players. How many guys had 20-plus points in the postseason? They’re as deep as it comes.”
In fact, six Panthers players finished the playoffs with 20 or more points. Eetu Luostarinen (19) and Anton Lundell (18) were just shy of that mark. In contrast, Edmonton had only four players reach the 20-point threshold. The next highest scorer after the top four was veteran Corey Perry, at age 40, with 14 points. This scoring disparity highlighted the Oilers` inability to match the Panthers` depth from top to bottom over the course of a lengthy and physically demanding series.
Looking forward, McDavid also conveyed to reporters that he possesses “a lot of confidence and belief” in the team`s future. However, when questioned about what he could possibly say to his teammates immediately after suffering another devastating Stanley Cup Final loss, his response was simple and direct.
He concluded:
“Nothing to say, really. Everyone’s disappointed.”
