McDavid Confident Oilers Will Bounce Back in Game 4 of West Final
EDMONTON — After suffering back-to-back losses for the first time in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Connor McDavid expressed his confidence in the Edmonton Oilers’ ability to bounce back in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars.
The Oilers currently find themselves trailing the series 2-1, with Game 4 set to take place at Rogers Arena on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET. Despite a strong start with a 3-2 victory in the opener thanks to a McDavid goal in double overtime, Edmonton faced defeats of 3-1 and 5-3, with a disappointing collapse in Game 3 after squandering a 2-0 lead.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, McDavid stated, “The group responds well. There’s a belief in our room that we can respond to situations like this. I know it’ll be the same tonight.”
One key area where the Oilers will need to see improvement is their power play, which has yet to find success in the series against Dallas. While Edmonton had a strong start with nine power-play goals in the first 20 opportunities, they have gone 0-for-5 against the Stars. The Dallas penalty kill has effectively shut down Edmonton’s typical setups, focusing on neutralizing defenseman Evan Bouchard and forward Leon Draisaitl.
McDavid acknowledged the challenge posed by the Stars’ penalty kill, noting, “Again, it’s a very good kill. But we have to bear down and get back into the series.”
In addition, McDavid defended Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse, who has faced criticism for his performance in the postseason. Despite being a team-low minus-10, McDavid emphasized Nurse’s importance to the team and expressed his expectations for a strong showing in Game 4.
As the Oilers prepare to face the Stars in a crucial Game 4, all eyes will be on McDavid and his teammates as they aim to turn the series around and secure a spot in the Stanley Cup Final.
