There’s always a string of articles and discussions before the NHL post-season, trying to decide who each team’s “X-Factor” is going to be. This player is usually defined as the unsung hero; the name that’s going to come out of the marshes and carry his team to victory.
Finding this “X-Factor” was a top priority for many Edmonton Oilers fans. While there was a lot to be confident in — with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl combining for an incredible 207 points — there were also a lot of areas that left fans guessing. Would the “X-Factor” be found in a player like Ethan Bear; a rag-tag defenceman that came out of the woodwork to impress fans this year? Or would it be in Mikko Koskinen, who finally found his consistently-top-notch ability at the NHL level?
Well, two games into the Oilers play-in round, there hasn’t been much debate. After an embarrassing Game One loss, the Oilers “X-Factor” emerged. Connor McDavid wasn’t going to let his team lose. With an emphatic hat-trick in Game Two, McDavid showed that he was still the NHL player to bet on.
Connor McDavid is the Oilers White Knight
It’s definitely a bit awry to call McDavid the team’s “X-Factor”. He clearly isn’t coming out of the woodwork to wow fans, like a player like Pat Maroon did last year. In fact, McDavid was nothing short of incredible, again, this year. He scored 34 goals and 97 points in only 64 games, second-most in the league behind Draisait. This put McDavid on pace for a staggering 124 points in an 82-game season. This is a crazy amount of points; one of the highest production-rates in recent memory, only eclipsed by Nikita Kucherov’s 128 points last season.
So there was clearly a high bar for McDavid heading into the play-in round. As the Oilers captain, he was expected more-so than anyone to take charge. And yet, after Game One, that didn’t really seem to be the case. McDavid floundered a bit. While he did manage a goal and two assists, something felt a bit off. He clearly wasn’t creating the incredible fire that fans expected out of him… even after a three-point outing. This led one Colorado Avalanche beat writer, Adrian Dater, to claim that McDavid was boring and “personally-deficient”. Dater claimed that McDavid wasn’t the Oilers “X-Factor” because he didn’t “inspire others”.
Dater’s tweet claiming this took off. The hockey world collapsed on the Avs insider, questioning how he could so quickly doubt one of the NHL’s perennial talents. And for good reason. McDavid was coming off of a three-point outing and was clearly doing all he could to spark the Oilers…
Game Two
Well, that’s how it seemed at the time, at least. McDavid quickly became the focus of the hockey world and it was clear that he noticed prior to Game Two. Once the puck dropped for Monday’s late-night game, McDavid was on a mission to prove that he was, by far, the Oilers “X-Factor”. That he had the ability to not only spark his team but to emphatically carry them to victory.
McDavid opened the scoring 19 seconds into the game. Before most were even settled in to watch the 10:30 pm game, McDavid had already notched his first tally on the scoresheet. Not even four minutes later, he scored his second of the game with a goal that’s quickly making the rounds on social media, with many claiming it’s one of the best they’ve ever seen. McDavid received a pass from his own end and proceeded to speed by all Chicago Blackhawks opposition, before shooting an impossible backhand shot that found its way over Corey Crawford’s shoulder.
He was clearly firing on all cylinders from the minute the puck dropped. It was an incredible first-period display and one that clearly stifled Chicago. While they did manage to finish the period only trailing 2-1, the Blackhawks were clearly shaken up by the prowess of McDavid.
They regained their bearings for the second-period but after McDavid sealed his hat-trick late in the second, it was clear that things were over. The Blackhawks were noticeably shaken, with Crawford going as far as letting in an embarrassing goal after giving the puck up behind his own net in the third-period.
While there was much debate around McDavid heading into Game Two, he made sure to silence it all heading out of it. With three goals and an overwhelmingly game, McDavid showed he wasn’t lacking at all; whether it be in personality or ability. Connor McDavid put the Oilers on his back for Game Two and won them the game through simply terrifying the opposition. He proved to fans and doubters alike that he is the Oilers “X-Factor”. He is the player that can put the team on his back. And while there may be no doubting McDavid’s ability, there’s also no telling what he can do when he grits his teeth and plays to win. Now with six points in only two play-in games, there’s no second-guessing things. McDavid is the difference-maker for Edmonton and he is out for blood this series.
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