Connor McDavid Shines in Stanley Cup Final, Leon Draisaitl Struggles
EDMONTON, Alberta — Connor McDavid has been on fire in the Stanley Cup Final, racking up 11 points in five games. He’s just two points shy of Wayne Gretzky’s 1988 record with the Edmonton Oilers. Meanwhile, Leon Draisaitl, despite an exceptional regular season where he tallied 106 points, has struggled. His only contributions in the Final have been two assists in Game 4 against the Florida Panthers, adding to his postseason total of 30 points in 23 games.
In light of his performance, Draisaitl admitted he hasn’t met his own standards. He scored 10 goals in his first 16 playoff games this year but is now seven games goalless on 13 shots in the series. He attributes his slump to himself and not to external factors like changing linemates. Coach Kris Knoblauch and teammate Dylan Holloway both believe Draisaitl’s impact goes beyond scoring, emphasizing his overall contribution to the team’s performance.
With the Panthers leading the series 3-2, the Oilers have clawed back, forcing a Game 6 after being down 3-0. Only one team, the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, has ever won the Cup from such a deficit. Despite his recent struggles, Draisaitl remains focused, aiming to win the game at home and push the series back to Florida for a decisive Game 7.
