With Game 5 of their series going to overtime, the next goal was going to do one of two things. If the Calgary Flames scored it, they’d narrow their series deficit to 3-2 and head to a Game 6. If the Edmonton Oilers scored it, the series would be over and they’d be onto the Western Conference Finals. The Oilers and their captain, Connor McDavid, opted for Door No. 2.
Just over five minutes into overtime, McDavid fired a wrist shot, which beat Calgary goalie Jakob Markstrom to clinch a 5-4 win in the game and a 4-1 series victory.
Connor McDavid (@cmcdavid97) sends the @EdmontonOilers to the Western Conference Final! 🥶 #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/3RHXewWSxT
— NHL (@NHL) May 27, 2022
Hockey fans heaped praise on McDavid for not only his overtime winner but his brilliant postseason.
@cmcdavid97 the goat @SamAdekugbe 😂😂😂😂😂 4-1 “game over” “Edmonton win” “flawless victory” (mortal combat voice) 😂😂
— Alphonso Davies (@AlphonsoDavies) May 27, 2022
McDavid is a monster.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) May 27, 2022
Connor Bleeping McDavid. He's slightly above average
— LaVelle E. Neal III (@LaVelleNeal) May 27, 2022
INJECT CONNOR MCDAVID’S CELEBRATION INTO MY VEINS! pic.twitter.com/Vw0UNRxM9n
— Adam (@OilersAdam) May 27, 2022
Connor McDavid, who else! Oilers win 5-4 in overtime and capture the Battle of Alberta. They’re off to the Western Conference final.
What a show in this series by No. 97. Ridiculous.— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 27, 2022
Connor McDavid is not getting enough attention outside of the hockey world right now.
We're witnessing one of the all-time great playoff performances in any sport pic.twitter.com/yEBBiyNCY8
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) May 27, 2022
McDavid is indeed, a superstar. He won the 2021-22 Ross Trophy as the NHL’s leading scorer, won the Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP in 2021 and is one of three finalists in 2022. While the Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Finals have yet to be played, he has an inside track for the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the Most Valuable Player of the postseason.
McDavid has been on the ice for 38 goals for in the playoffs in 261:41 of TOI.
STL has 38 goals in 671 min.
NYR has 37 in 773 min.
TB has 36 in 678 min
CGY has 35 in 735 min.
CAR has 33 in 723 min.
FLO scored 23 in 607 min
COL only team with more, 40 goals, in 560 min.— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) May 27, 2022
It’s hard to imagine a player making a bigger impact.
This goal put Edmonton into its first Conference Finals since 2006. That year, the Oilers defeated the Anaheim Ducks in five games but lost the Stanley Cup Finals to the Carolina Hurricanes in seven. Edmonton is still waiting for its first Stanley Cup Championship since 1990.
The Oilers are the second team to earn a spot in the Conference Finals. The Tampa Bay Lightning were the first, after sweeping the Florida Panthers. Edmonton will await the winner of the Colorado Avalanche vs. St. Louis Blues series. Colorado currently leads 3-2.
[NHL]
