SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Connor McDavid gained the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP on Monday evening regardless of Edmonton’s Stanley Cup Last loss to Florida, a nod to one of many best postseason performances in NHL historical past.
McDavid, who was held and not using a level in Sport 7 on Monday evening, led all scorers with 42 factors, 5 shy of the report of 47 set by Wayne Gretzky in 1985.
“It’s unbelievable,” teammate Dylan Holloway stated earlier than the sport. “There’s no scarcity of phrases. He’s simply so superior. He brings it each single day, and after we want him probably the most that’s when he performs one of the best. He’s clearly a very particular participant and a particular man, too.”
After not scoring (however nonetheless main the group with three assists) via the primary three video games towards Florida, McDavid modified the course of the sequence by doing one thing no different participant in historical past has executed, together with Gretzky. He had 4 factors in consecutive video games within the ultimate to maintain the Oilers from being eradicated.
Panthers ahead Nick Cousins stated McDavid was “enjoying on a distinct degree.”
“I didn’t assume it was doable for him to raise his recreation, however he has,” Cousins stated.
McDavid is simply the second skater after the Flyers’ Reggie Leach in 1976 to win the Conn Smythe on a group that misplaced within the ultimate. Goaltenders Jean-Sebastien Giguere of Anaheim in 2003, Ron Hextall of Philadelphia in 1987, Glenn Corridor of St. Louis in 1968 and Roger Crozier with Detroit in 1966 had been additionally playoff MVPs after backstopping groups that fell simply in need of hoisting the Cup.
McDavid, the reigning and three time Hart Trophy winner lengthy thought-about one of the best hockey participant on the planet, placed on a present in his first journey to the ultimate. His objective and three assists in an 8-1 rout in Sport 4 prevented a sweep, and his 4 factors together with an empty netter in Sport 5 three nights later dragged the sequence again to Alberta.
Those that know McDavid consider it’s the year-round work he has put in all through his profession allowed him to thrive when the highlight was at its brightest.
“He’s distinctive in his dedication to his craft,” stated Corridor of Famer Ken Hitchcock, who coached McDavid in 2018-19. “He’s very distinctive. He’s realized to be relentless, and he enjoys it and he’s very, very severe about his craft, and that turns into contagious once you’re on the group with him.”
Oilers gamers lauded McDavid not only for main by instance along with his play but additionally off the ice.
“He provides me a ton of confidence it doesn’t matter what occurs within the recreation, goaltender Stuart Skinner stated whereas sitting subsequent to McDavid, who turned vibrant pink listening. ”Whether or not I let in 5, whether or not I get a shutout. He’s at all times in my nook, he’s at all times patting me on the again and telling me that he believes in me. … I may speak about him for a really very long time.”
That speak is justified for a participant who led the league in scoring 5 occasions throughout the common season and achieved nearly every part on a person foundation. What continues to be lacking within the Stanley Cup, which must wait a minimum of one other 12 months.
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AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL