Connor McDavid is making his place in legend

Scoring four points when your team's back is against the wall is called a drive. Doing this twice in a row is more than just determination. It's legendary.

This is the achievement that Connor McDavid succeeded in achieving on Saturday and Tuesday, while the Stanley Cup was waiting to emerge from its state and be embraced by the Panthers players.

Getty Images via AFP

And amazingly so. If the Oilers turn things around and become the first team since the 1942 Maple Leafs to win the Stanley Cup after falling behind 3-0 in the Final, this performance will be remembered for decades.

The day after that second win, Chris Knoblauch had nothing but praise for his team captain. And not just for his contribution to the attack.

“The resilience of this team depends a lot on Conor and Leon [Draisaitl]», commented the Oilers coach, via video, before traveling to Edmonton. “These are two players who thrive on success. Individual successes, but above all team successes.”

“They're playing the right way to get there. When you see your two superstars pushing the puck deep into the opponent's zone, checking, dropping backs and finishing checks, it leaves you no choice but to imitate them and do the little details that allow the team to be successful.

Like 10 years ago

Hired in November to replace Jay Woodcroft, Knoblauch saw his first NHL playoffs. However, he has known McDavid for more than a decade. The young prodigy played under him when he donned the colors of the Erie Otters in the Ontario Junior League.

“In his first season when he was 17, he got injured. He missed a lot of games. He came back in time for the World Junior Hockey Championships. When he came back from the tournament he completely demolished the league. He took his game to another level,” Knoblauch recalls.

“Then two years later, in the semifinal against Sault Ste. Marie, he set a record for points in a series, even though the Greyhounds had a strong team. And once again, he raised his game.”

Let's go play hockey

It can be said to be the same this time. McDavid is literally on a mission, dragging his teammates in his wake. Furthermore, the Oilers have been able to win their last two games without necessarily turning their game plan on its head.

“Teams facing a similar situation usually try to finish the match or play tensely. They start playing differently,” said the 45-year-old pilot.

“This team has faced a lot of adversity in the past. And it was the same thing this season. Expectations were high from the start, but the start of the season was short. We were last. The guys told themselves it couldn't be worse, that now they just had to play hockey.” “It was a lesson.”

It is a lesson they were able to apply in this final because, just like at the beginning of the season, it would have been difficult to do worse.