April 21, 2023 by Eric Friesen

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid produced one of the greatest playoff performances in NHL history last season. McDavid led the league in playoff scoring with 33 points in just 16 games, despite only playing in the first three rounds of the post-season.

The five-time Art Ross Trophy winner became the first player to lead the league in points in the regular season and playoffs since Evgeni Malkin in 2008-09. He was also the first player to lead the league in playoff points without appearing in the Stanley Cup Final since Peter Forsberg in 2001-02.

Heightened expectations come with the territory when you’re the best player in the world. But there’s no reason to panic that McDavid has just one point through the first two games of the Oilers’ opening-round series against the Los Angeles Kings.

Though he doesn’t have a goal in the series so far, McDavid had six shots in the Oilers’ 4-2 victory over the Kings in Game 2, so he’s still creating plenty of chances for himself. It would be more concerning if he wasn’t getting any quality looks at all.

So, while some Oilers fans have speculated that McDavid is either sick or hurt, I don’t think that’s the case at all. We have just become so accustomed to him generating offence at a superhuman rate, that anything short of an otherworldly game for McDavid leads many hockey observers to suspect that something must be wrong with him.

Related: Connor McDavid joins the 60-goal club in dramatic fashion

McDavid, who registered at least a point in 75 of 82 games during the regular season, consistently bounced back with a lengthy point streak each time he didn’t get his name on the scoresheet. His primary assist on the power-play could very likely be the start of another dominant post-season.

And while the Oilers captain surely wants to pile up the points, I’m sure he’s equally happy to have greater support scoring around him now than at any other point in his eight-year NHL career. And most importantly, all he cares about is winning – and winning in Edmonton.

“It’s special,” McDavid told Sportsnet’s Scott Oake on Wednesday. “We’ve had a few little runs here, and every time we’re in the playoffs, it’s always fun to be around the city. And, obviously, the games are amazing. And the atmosphere makes it fun, and difficult for the other team, which we like. So, now we’re heading out on the road, and we’ll [try to make the fans proud] on the road.”

As the series shifts to Los Angeles, the Kings will almost certainly try to shadow McDavid even more with hard line matching. He’s had two Kings’ players covering him virtually every time he’s stepped on the ice in this series.

However, McDavid has shown the ability to outthink any opponent’s plan to contain him, so it’s reasonable to expect a three-point night coming in either Game 3 or 4 on the road.