New York. As usual, there were plenty of head-turning performances in Las Vegas last night, but certainly none more exciting than superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Drissettel at the T-Mobile Arena.
They scored two goals each as the Oilers swept the Golden Knights on their way to a playoff record.
– Although we are not here for our goals and points. We’re part of a team that wants to win,” McDavid says after the 5-1 performance.
The second meeting between the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights on the Strip in Las Vegas barely started before it was decided.
The Oilers started at a furious pace, forced two early sackings and, of course, used their killer play—which Wayne Gretzky on tonight’s TNT broadcast called “the best I’ve ever seen”—to take a 2-0 lead, including after a fresh King’s Leon Drisettel goal.
Then Vegas got a power play, but it only ended with Conor McDavid responding with a very sweet “reductive” goal. Before the first period break, Draisaitl had time to hit another puck and on another power play in the second period, McDavid increased the lead to 5-0.
– We wanted to be better than in the first game and we were, says the 26-year-old captain.
– We were faster, more aggressive and made sure they didn’t have the picture as much. It is the best way to defend yourself.
That he and his German buddy Draisaitl gobble up the entire playoffs with their individual efforts — the latter has now hit thirteen goals in eight matches and will soon break the all-time record — isn’t something McDavid attaches too much importance to.
– Nobody can surprise Lyon at this point, he’s amazing, one of the best players in the world. But we are not here for our goals and points. He says: We are part of a team that wants to win.
Neon Lion agrees.
It is accepted that we do what we are supposed to do in our different roles. However, we are only two players on the team, he says.
For Vegas, who were convincing in the first game and won 6-4, the night ear file was a huge disappointment.
– We were not ready and barely borrowed the puck in the first period, coach Bruce Cassidy sighs.
The next game in the series is played in Edmonton on a Tuesday night.