Will Connor McDavid’s production return in Anaheim?
The Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks are heading to Orange County to continue what has been a highly entertaining first-round series.
With all the high-level talent on the ice, the two teams produced a pair of high-octane, fast-paced games, with each squad earning one victory.
But the biggest name in the series, Connor McDavid, was held without a point in both contests. In fact, Edmonton’s win in Game 1 was its first of the season in which McDavid did not register a point.
On Friday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, host Tyler Yaremchuk and co-host and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton discussed McDavid’s surprising struggles and whether he can get things turned around as the series shifts to Anaheim.
Tyler Yaremchuk: Let’s head out West and talk a little bit about the Oilers and Ducks. It is Game 3 in Orange County tonight. The Oilers looking to grab back home-ice advantage. Connor McDavid looking to register his first point of the series. That has been well documented, but these two teams are going to play twice this weekend. They will play Friday; they will play Sunday. I’m going to set your over/under for 3.5 points for Connor McDavid for the weekend, Hutts. You think Connor McDavid in the two games, when we sit and do this show on Monday, is Connor McDavid’s stat line going to read over or under 3.5 points?
Carter Hutton: You know, the only thing, I feel like I would take this for sure over. The health and where he’s at makes me nervous, but the amount of treatment and the way this guy takes care of himself and how he’s on the ball, and he’s been in these situations before, right? You mentioned it last week… They’re usually kind of in these situations. They’re down 0-2, they’re tied 1-1, it seems like this is just normal ground for them, so I’m going to go with the over because I think he’s such an amazing player. His skill set, and I think they make some adjustments and he finds the back of the net a bunch, whether it’s assists or goals, whatever it is, I think he gets there.
Tyler Yaremchuk: Yeah, I think their power play is just too good to stay this quiet. Full credit to the Ducks. They are pesky, man. They get their sticks on everything. I went back and I watched Game 2, it’s insane how many times off the rush, it’s not like the Ducks are getting in front of them and laying these big checks, it’s just reach the stick out, knock it off just enough to kind of throw the Oilers off. The fact Anaheim’s made life as difficult as they have on not just McDavid, but all the Oilers’ star players off the rush… full marks to the Ducks. I’m going to take the over on McDavid, but I will say, and everyone can stop commenting ‘homer’ in the chat, I’ll say this, I think this series is 2-2 going back to Edmonton for Game 5.
You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode below…