The NHL Western Conference Finals begin Tuesday night in Denver when the Colorado Avalanche hosts the Edmonton Oilers in the first game.
This seven-game series will feature great firepower, highlighted by the game’s two most exciting players today, Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. Not to mention people like Leon Draisaitl, Evander Kane, Nazem Kadri, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar.
“It’s going to be exciting,” Avs CEO Joe Sakic told the media on Monday. “There are world-class players there. Two of the best in the game. We too. Both teams have a great depth up and down the lineup that they’ve gotten contributions. I just think for the league, if you’re doing the game that you will enjoy this series “.
The McSeries: McDavid vs. MacKinnon
They engrave masterpieces on a 200 by 85 canvas, creating real-time art. They make this Western Conference final look even bigger, not a series as much as an event. The last time the NHL offered a playoff clash between names above the marquee was in 2018, the third in the Crosby and Ovechkin spring trilogy, but McDavid vs. MacKinnon has that smell of playoff again.
Statistics also give hockey fans a lot of excitement.
For the first time in 34 years, and only the fifth time in history, a four-way matchup in the Stanley Cup playoffs will feature two teams with an average of 4.3 goals or more per game. Colorado stands at 4.3 while the Oilers are scoring 4.33 goals per game this spring in the playoffs.
This year’s Western Finals also mark the first time in the history of the Stanley Cup playoffs that a series will feature the top four active skaters on the list of points per playoff game of his career with a minimum of 30 games played. .
Leon Draisaitl (EDM) 1.61 26 points (7G, 19A) in 12 games Connor McDavid (EDM) 1.45 26 points (7G, 19A) in 12 games Nathan MacKinnon (COL) 1.37 13 points (8G, 5A ) in games Mik Rantanen (COL) 1.19 11 points (1G, 10A) in 10 games
McDavid, 25, is just one point away from scoring 150 points in 2021-22 (regular season and playoffs), making him the first player in 26 years to achieve that feat.
The quiz: ranking of the best 1v1 matches in the final of the Western Conference
Everyone is talking about Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon facing off for a place in the Stanley Cup final, but there’s a lot of intrigue beyond that. The panel ranks their favorite face-offs, nominates the Conference MVP Awards, and chooses their X-Factors in this edition of The Quiz.
“I think it’s been the best for a while,” MacKinnon said of McDavid on Monday. “It will take a full team effort to stop it.”
Other players who achieved this mark are Mario Lemieux (188 in 1995-96), Jaromir Jagr (172 in 1995-96), Joe Sakic (154 in 1995-96), Lemieux (178 in 1992-93), Doug Gilmour ( 162). in 1992-93), Pat LaFontaine (160 in 1992-93) and Adam Oates (151 in 1992-93).
Oilers and Avalanche face more than McDavid against MacKinnon
The obvious showdown between the Oilers and the Avalanche is Connor McDavid vs. Nathan MacKinnon, but there are many other side plots to watch out for. TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger explains why we need to be aware of Evander Kane and Nazem Kadri, and discusses whether or not we will see McDavid stay in line with Leon Draisaitl.
The Western Conference final will not only be offensive, as goalkeepers should also play a key role. Both Mike Smith and Darcy Kuemper have posted some very solid numbers throughout their careers against each other’s teams.
Smith, 40, holds a 13-1-5 record in his career against the Avs with an average of 2.17 goals against and a .929 save percentage with two whites. Kuemper 32, on the other hand, is 10-2-4 all-time against the Oilers with a GAA of 2.20 and an SV of .926 with a single target.
All statistics courtesy of Kevin Gibson of TSN.