On their journey to securing wins in their respective conferences, star players Connor McDavid and Aleksander Barkov delivered truly memorable performances.
In Game 5 of the Western Conference Final, with the Edmonton Oilers holding a narrow 3-2 lead against the Dallas Stars, McDavid demonstrated astonishing acceleration. He reached a peak speed of 22.1 mph during a breakaway that resulted in a goal.
“That was a prime example of a big player stepping up with a big play in a crucial moment,” Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse commented to reporters after the game.
Just the night before, Barkov exhibited masterful puck control behind the goal line. He deftly maneuvered past Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Dmitry Orlov before delivering a precise backhand pass to Carter Verhaeghe in front of the net for the goal that clinched the series.
Panthers forward Sam Reinhart praised his teammate during Florida`s celebration of their third consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Final, telling reporters, “Elite players make impactful plays at the most critical times when they are needed, and he is unquestionably the leader of this squad.”
Highlight 1: Watch as Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid showcases incredible speed, scoring a beautiful solo breakaway goal in Game 5 against the Dallas Stars.
Highlight 2: See how Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers skillfully evades Dmitry Orlov behind the net and makes an excellent pass, setting up Carter Verhaeghe for the game-winning goal late in Game 5 against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Neville Woodall