After falling 2-1 down in the Western Conference Second Round, Matthew Tkachuk says the Calgary Flames need to find a way to stop Edmonton Oilers red-hot forward Connor McDavid.
The Flames, 9/1 to win the Stanley Cup in 2021/22 and 8/5 to progress past McDavid and the Oilers, were beaten 4-1 in Game 3 on Sunday with Edmonton's top line of McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evander Kane combining for 10 points.
McDavid shines again
McDavid had three assists taking his playoff leading points tally to 23 (six goals, 17 assists) in 10 games.
The 25-year-old is on a six-game multi-point streak which is the second-longest in team history behind Wayne Gretzky, eight in 1983.
With 123 (44 goals, 79 assists) in 80 games, the Oilers Captain also led all players in the regular season for a second straight year. He has been nominated for the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player, an award that he won unanimously last season.
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Edmonton finished second in the Pacific Division (49-27-6), six points behind the Flames who claimed top spot.
Tkachuk demands more
24-year-old Tkachuk scored a hat-trick in Calgary's wild 9-6 win to open the series. In 10 post-season games so far, the rugged winger has a total of 10 points (four goals, six assists).
Both the Flames and Oilers progressed from the first round in a Game 7, Calgary against the Dallas Stars and Edmonton over the Los Angeles Kings.
Tkachuk said to the media: "They've got one player that plays half the game and is playing some great hockey right now. We've got to find a way to stop that. When we get in their zone, we've got to hold pucks, nothing blind, and get shots to the goalie…. (We) just have to have consistent O-zone shifts and not throw anything blind where they can feed their transition."
Game 4 will be in Edmonton on Tuesday.
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