On their paths to winning their respective conference championships, Connor McDavid and Aleksander Barkov delivered standout performances.
In Game 5 of the Western Conference Final, with the Edmonton Oilers holding a 3-2 lead against the Dallas Stars, McDavid hit a top speed of 22.1 m.p.h. on a spectacular breakaway goal. Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse later commented that it was a prime example of a star player making a big play in a crucial moment.
The previous night, in the Eastern Conference Final, Barkov skillfully worked below the goal line, handling Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Dmitry Orlov before delivering a clever backhand pass to Carter Verhaeghe for the series-clinching goal in tight space. Panthers forward Sam Reinhart emphasized that big players step up in the most important moments and that Barkov is undoubtedly the leader for Florida, who reached their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final.
Clearly, the ability of these two star players to perform at their best in high-stakes situations will be a decisive factor in the upcoming Stanley Cup Final rematch.
Tristan Blackwood