The Edmonton Oilers have advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2006 after beating the Calgary Flames 5-4 in overtime and winning the series 4 games to 1.
After going down 2 early in the second period the Edmonton Oilers scored 3 goals in a row to take a lead. They then gave up 2 in row to give the lead back to the Calgary Flames, before once again tying the game up all still in the second period.
In the third period the Flames looked like they took the lead, but it was determined that Blake Coleman kicked the puck in with his foot. This caused the goal to be waved off. With that call that made the 3rd period goalless.
With the game in overtime the team traded a couple of good opportunities back and forth. This was before the Dynamic Duo teamed up to put this series to bed. Leon Draisaitl finds the Connor McDavid takes the puck and makes no mistakes as he beats Jacob Markstorm low glove to move the Edmonton Oilers to the Western Conference Finals.
It just had to be Connor. #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/HXXA3eNCIa
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) May 27, 2022
Up to that point, McDavid was have a rather pedestrian night, but when the moments get big your big players need to be bigger. Is there any better way you could have drawn up that finish than a Draisaitl to McDavid goal? I don’t think so.
Leon Draisaitl
As good as Connor McDavid was in this series Leon Draisaitl was statistically better. He put up a mind blowing 17 points in the 5 games. That is tied with the most all time in a 5 game series with Rick Middleton. This now ties him with McDavid with 26 points in the 12 games played so far this period.
Leon Draisaitl (0-4—4) factored on four of the @EdmontonOilers' five goals to boost his 2022 #StanleyCup Playoff totals to 7-19—26 (12 GP), tied with teammate Connor McDavid (7-19—26 in 12 GP) for the NHL lead in points.
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 27, 2022
#NHLStats: https://t.co/GsrxOmZ19p pic.twitter.com/yXoCCgnsWR
This duo is something to watch on a night to night basis in the regular season, but when it come to the Stanley Cup Playoffs these two players took control of almost every game they played. It is such a pleasure to watch these players on a night to night basis. To see them move on in the playoffs is excellent to see.
Moving Forward
While there is time to celebrate there are still games to win. For the Edmonton Oilers to be fully satisfied and to win the Stanley Cup they still need 8 more wins. They don’t know for sure who they will be playing in the next round. Whether it be the Colorado Avalanche or the St. Louis Blues, both of these teams are good teams.
The Edmonton Oilers will have to pick up their play from this round to the next, just like they did going from the Los Angeles Kings to the Calgary Flames. They are capable of this and I think they have a chance to beat either of the teams in the Conference Final.
Hopefully in a week or so I am doing a similar article, but instead of it being about going to the Conference Finals it is about the Stanley Cup Finals.