Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch expects captain Connor McDavid will get on the board in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs sooner rather than later.
McDavid, the NHL's regular-season points leader, hasn't recorded a point in the first two games of the Oilers' opening-round series against the Anaheim Ducks. However, Knoblauch believes it's inevitable that McDavid will find his groove.
"He's putting a lot of pressure on himself," Knoblauch said after the Oilers' 6-4 loss Wednesday night at Rogers Place, according to The Canadian Press' Donna Spencer. "He wants the team to do well. He's a leader, and usually when we have success, he's a big part of that. There've been stretches during the season that he hasn't been the best player, nights where he hasn't been outstanding.
"That doesn't happen very often, and I'm certain that he's going to find his game."
McDavid led the league with 138 points in the regular season, winning the Art Ross Trophy. The 29-year-old recorded 48 goals and 90 assists in 82 games.
The series between the Oilers and Ducks is tied heading into Friday's Game 3 at Honda Center.
McDavid had a bit of an injury scare in Game 2. His right leg appeared to buckle when he collided with teammate Mattias Ekholm early in the second period. McDavid left the game briefly but said afterward it wasn't a serious issue.
"I just rolled up on it a little bit," he said. "It's fine."
