Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
With a chance to advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in his career on the line, Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid refused to be denied.
McDavid set the tone early, scoring a nifty goal less than five minutes into Sunday’s Game 6 of the Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars and assisted Zach Hyman’s goal later in the opening period to lead the Oilers to a 2-1 victory.
It’s Edmonton’s first trip to the Stanley Cup Final since the 2005-06 season and eighth in franchise history. The team will meet the Florida Panthers, who won the Eastern Conference for the third straight year by defeating the New York Rangers in six games. Florida is seeking its first Stanley Cup title in franchise history, while Edmonton is chasing its sixth overall and first since the 1989-90 campaign.
McDavid’s early attack proved to pay dividends as the Oilers staved off a furious attack from the Stars, who were looking to extend their season by forcing a Game 7. Dallas out-shot Edmonton 35-10 in Sunday’s contest. The 10 shots on goal by Edmonton were the fewest in a series-clinching effort in conference finals history. Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner was a brick wall in the net, finishing with 34 saves and one goal allowed in the third period.
Fans on social media were blown away by the effort from McDavid and the Oilers as they finally broke through to win a conference title:
B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIce
THE EDMONTON OILERS ARE HEADED TO THE STANLEY CUP FINAL 🔥 pic.twitter.com/SZgLTdJglG
B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIce
OILERS. PANTHERS.
THE STANLEY CUP FINAL IS SET 🔥🏆 pic.twitter.com/Hd3sKdYtdq
Edmonton Oilers @EdmontonOilers
🤠 BEST IN THE WEST 🤠
The #Oilers defeat the Stars 2-1 in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/KuMyN8FbMC
NHL Public Relations @PR_NHL
Connor McDavid and the @EdmontonOilers are headed to the #StanleyCup Final.
Edmonton will make its eighth Final appearance and tie Philadelphia for the most by a non-Original Six franchise. #NHLStats: https://t.co/KvlyR3m0ap pic.twitter.com/vAGcEk3iOQ
B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIce
The Oilers have NOT touched the Campbell bowl for winning the Western Conference 🙅♂️ pic.twitter.com/lftZwVGS7U
Yahoo Sports @YahooSports
Connor McDavid will appear in the first Stanley Cup Final of his nine-year career 🔥 pic.twitter.com/RR9x3riYgO
Mike Golic Jr @mikegolicjr
Connor McDavid in the Stanley Cup Final. LFG
Bryan Fischer @BryanDFischer
All that now stands between Canada and the Cup is… Florida.
Elliotte Friedman @FriedgeHNIC
Crazy NHL records set tonight:
Edmonton’s 10 shots were fewest in a Conference Finals clincher.
Previous: 17 by Boston when knocking out Washington in the 1990 Wales Conference Final.
Worst shot differential by a winning team in Conference Finals clincher, minus-25 (35-10).…
Chris Johnston @reporterchris
The Edmonton Oilers are four wins away from claiming the first #StanleyCup by a Canadian team since 1993.
It’s their first trip to the final since 2006. They last won in 1990.
History will be made one way or another in a series with #FlaPanthers that starts Saturday. pic.twitter.com/6wQHNSggJq
B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIce
CONNOR MCDAVID WITH A DISGUSTING GOAL TO START GAME 6 🤯🔥 pic.twitter.com/f68uNrurVk
Pat McAfee @PatMcAfeeShow
McDavid is filthy… just pure electricity on the ice
P.K. Subban @PKSubban1
Are you kidding me??#nhl #hockey #playoffs #connormcdavid #mcdavid #edmonton #oilers #dallas #stars #goal #game6 pic.twitter.com/072qrJpMlH
Edmonton Oilers @EdmontonOilers
ZACH ATTACK 💥 pic.twitter.com/dWLNCnBnJK
McDavid already has a legendary career that includes five Art Ross Trophies, four Ted Lindsay Awards and three Hart Memorial Trophies. The only thing missing is a Stanley Cup title, and he put himself in a position to earn his first championship with a stellar performance on Sunday.
McDavid and the Oilers will meet the Panthers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday.
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