The Edmonton Oilers are leaving the state of Florida with disappointment. In one of the most riveting Stanley Cup Finals in recent memory, the Oilers were on the cusp of pulling off the reverse sweep. Unfortunately for Edmonton, the Florida Panthers were the eventual winners of the Stanley Cup, taking Game 7 by a final score of 2–1.
Connor McDavid wins the Conn Smythe
Despite the Oilers’ losing effort, they still have some hardware to take home. This comes in the form of Connor McDavid winning the Conn Smythe. His playoff performance was as otherworldly as they come, as he posted eight goals and 34 assists for a 42-point output over 24 games.
McDavid set new records that were held by Wayne Gretzky. He put the team on his back when the Oilers were facing elimination and put up eight points over two games to force the series back to Edmonton for Game 6. It is an understatement to say the Oilers wouldn’t have made it to Game 7 without McDavid. He led the team to the Stanley Cup Final with a gargantuan effort and kept leading the team to the series’ end.
He was held pointless in the final two games of the playoffs, but his overall playoff performance is about as Connor McDavid as it can possibly get.
A rarity to win the Smythe in a losing effort
McDavid becomes the first player in over two decades to win the Conn Smythe in their team’s losing effort. The last time this happened was back in 2003 when Jean-Sébastien Giguère was awarded the honour for his goaltending effort with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
A small footnote, McDavid did not come out to receive his trophy.
The Edmonton Oilers have lots to be proud of for their season and their captain winning the Smythe definitely makes that list.
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