2022 Stanley Cup playoffs - How Connor McDavid has somehow taken his game to another level

EDMONTON — Connor McDavid is putting on a master class of postseason performance, and it's pushing the Edmonton Oilers to greater heights.

Take, for example, McDavid's play in Game 2 of Edmonton's second-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Calgary Flames. The Oilers were trailing 3-1 after a disallowed goal, and McDavid had just set up a subsequent goal for Leon Draisaitl that was also called back.

Frustrating? Not for McDavid. Shortly thereafter, Edmonton's captain took control and dangled through Calgary's defense to score against Jacob Markstrom.

Edmonton's bench exploded. The Oilers were back in business. And Calgary would not score again as Edmonton went on to win 5-3 and even the best-of-seven series at 1-1.

McDavid didn't have much to say about his goal — «I'm just happy to contribute,» he said afterward — but there was no mistaking its impact, or the one McDavid is having in these playoffs.

And if McDavid isn't going to talk about his play, there are plenty of people around him willing to pick up the slack.

«The way this guy is playing right now, it's special,» Oilers interim coach Jay Woodcroft said. «He's driving our team forward. Connor is the best hockey player in the world. He's willing to pay a price to win. He's driven to win. He has an effect on everybody in our organization with that desire to take his game to the next level.»

«I think he's pushing his own limits, right? And that's what special players do,» forward Zach Hyman added. «He's taken his game to another level, and that's hard to do already. But he's leading our team in every aspect. He's doing it all. He's a huge reason we're here.»

«Here» for the Oilers is now leading their series with Calgary 2-1 after a 4-1 blowout in Game 3 on