Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk reveals plan to slow Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl

The Florida Panthers have a plan to stop the top skaters of the Edmonton Oilers. Panther Matthew Tkachuk is giving fans a little taste of what that plan is, by revealing how the squad must stop Oilers stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

“It’s a group effort. Never one person. We’ve got a really good defensive team here. I think that just speaks to how 20 guys have bought into it. It’s gotta be group. We’ve got guys that can skate,” Tkachuk said, per the team’s communications team.

The Panthers will certainly have their defense challenged in the Stanley Cup Final. The Oilers have two of the most dangerous offensive players in the NHL, in McDavid and Draisaitl. Florida is seeking their first ever Stanley Cup championship, and the Oilers are the only thing left standing in the way.

Tkachuk and the Panthers

It has certainly been a very exciting season and postseason for Florida. The Panthers pulled out a win in the Eastern Conference Final over the Rangers, in six games. Florida surged after falling into a 2-1 hole in the series. The Panthers took the last three games, supported by Tkachuk as well as several others.

Tkachuk is having a great postseason. In 17 games, the forward has five goals and 14 assists. He is also helping out his teammates. His plus-minus in the playoffs is an impressive +5. In his career, the Panthers star has 58 total points, including 23 career postseason goals. He has played for the Panthers since the start of last season. Before his time in south Florida, Tkachuk spent six seasons with the Calgary Flames.

Why Edmonton is so dangerous

It won’t be easy for Florida to stop the Oilers. Edmonton has one of the best offenses in hockey this season, especially when it comes to skating on the power play. Even though the Oilers changed coaches in November, the team went on a 16-game winning streak into the All-Star Break.

The primary reason why they have won so much, is because they had Connor McDavid. The Oilers have arguably the most valuable player in hockey, in McDavid. The center has posted 132 points this season for Edmonton, with a plus-minus at +32. That is truly an astonishing statistic, and one of several reasons why the Oilers are representing the powerful Western Conference in the final.

Draisaitl isn’t too far behind. He has a plus-minus of +26 on the season. While his stats aren’t as eye-popping as McDavids, he provides a large amount of leadership to the club. Edmonton’s two stars were instrumental in bringing the team back from a deficit in the Western Conference Final. Down 2-1 to the Dallas Stars, Edmonton won three games in a row to take the series.

It is amazing that both teams overcame 2-1 deficits to win their respective conference finals. While both clubs have produced championship caliber seasons, only one of them can be crowned Stanley Cup champion. The journey begins Saturday, when the teams play Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.

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