McDavid with Oilers in hole: Not at top of game

DENVER — Connor McDavid has dominated the NHL postseason so far. However even he’s feeling the strain to carry out after the Edmonton Oilers had been shut out 4-0 by the Colorado Avalanche in Recreation 2 of the Western Convention finals on Thursday, falling behind 2-0 within the best-of-seven sequence.

“I in all probability have not been on the high of my recreation right here,” McDavid mentioned. “They’ve achieved job limiting our possibilities. They discovered a approach to break by way of [tonight]. We did not.”

Edmonton has been powered by its superstars all through the playoffs, and McDavid has been significantly spectacular. He paces all playoff skaters with 29 factors in 14 video games and was a dominant power within the Oilers’ second-round sequence victory over the Calgary Flames.

McDavid did notch one aim and three factors in Recreation 1 in opposition to the Avalanche, an 8-6 loss for the Oilers. However like everybody else on Edmonton’s bench, he was minimized in Recreation 2 by a relentless Colorado staff that dictated a lot of the sport with fast transition play and rush possibilities.

Edmonton coach Jay Woodcroft had tried to spark the Oilers by spreading out his high skaters, placing McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on separate traces to begin Recreation 2. Draisaitl slotted in with Kailer Yamamoto and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, whereas McDavid paired with Evander Kane and Zach Hyman.

The change did not have the specified impact on Edmonton as an entire.

“We did some issues to maneuver the chess items round,” Woodcroft mentioned. “We did not do sufficient to make it onerous on the opposing goaltender; we had some possibilities however not almost sufficient. Tonight did not go our approach, however we’ll return to the drafting board.”

Recreation 1 was such an offense-heavy affair, either side dedicated to raised protection in Recreation 2. That got here considerably to fruition in a scoreless first interval during which pictures favored Colorado, 15-13.

Each goaltenders, Mike Smith and Pavel Francouz (beginning instead of the injured Darcy Kuemper), had been glorious in that body, making key stops to carry the tie.

Then, within the span of two:04, it was 3-0 Avalanche.

Artturi Lehkonen had the sport’s ice-breaker early within the second interval, adopted 15 seconds later by a aim from Josh Manson.

Woodcroft took a timeout to settle his staff down. It did not assist.

A foul line change by the Oilers arrange an odd-man rush for Colorado that was one other aim, this one from Mikko Rantanen.

Nazem Kadri assisted on all three objectives.

“They undoubtedly feed off momentum,” McDavid mentioned. “They discover methods to compound one and switch it into three there. Clearly, it is on us to seize that. It appears likes shifts after objectives — both for or in opposition to — have damage us over the past couple of video games. The shift after, they discover a approach to rating proper after.”

Edmonton additionally wasted what was a terrific efficiency by Smith. The veteran had been pulled halfway by way of Recreation 1 after permitting six objectives however clearly had put that behind him in a pristine first interval that required a number of key stops on the attacking Avalanche.

The Oilers merely could not give him any assist. Colorado was throughout Edmonton with good sticks breaking apart possibilities and refusing to permit the Oilers any important offensive zone time. By early within the third interval, Edmonton was 0-for-2 on the facility play and had been outshot 31-22.

“I assumed we pushed again, we generated some offense,” Woodcroft mentioned. “That little span within the second interval actually damage us, took the wind out of our sails. We weren’t in a position to generate.”

Nathan MacKinnon added to the Avalanche’s haul later within the third to make it 4-0 Colorado.

“I assumed we performed first,” Tyson Barrie mentioned. “There’s only a little bit of a stretch within the second there the place they obtained one and we compounded it — they obtained two, they obtained three. And that is momentum. That is how this staff rolls. We have to do a greater job at after they do get one, we have to cease the bleeding.”

Because it was, Edmonton could not get a single puck previous Francouz. Colorado began its backup for the primary time this sequence, after shedding Kuemper to an upper-body ailment halfway by way of Recreation 1. Francouz posted the second playoff shutout of his profession in a 24-save efficiency.

The sequence shifts to Edmonton for Recreation 3 on Saturday, the place the Oilers will attempt to use their dwelling crowd to their benefit and get again within the sequence.

“We have come to a constructing on the highway, we did not win,” Woodcroft mentioned. “Now it is on us to return, regroup, clearly have a look at the issues we are able to get higher and exit and execute on dwelling ice.”