Connor McDavid has a long way to go before he can say he is on the same level as players like Sidney Crosby and Wayne Gretzky. McDavid has been on pace with his statistics, but team wins are what define you in the NHL, and the Edmonton Oilers' superstar is still chasing his first Stanley Cup.
The quest to win that title hit a significant setback when the Oilers took a disappointing loss on home ice against the Florida Panthers in Game 5. However, a stat from Crosby's first Stanley Cup can give the Oilers and their fans hope that the dream might not be over for McDavid.
The Detroit Red Wings dominated the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final in 2009. It put Crosby in a 3-2 hole, and it seemed like all hope was lost. Crosby and his team rallied in the next two games, shut down the Red Wings' balanced offense, and won both games 2-1.
Sound familiar? The Oilers seem unable to stop the Panthers' offense, which features 11 players with double-digit points in this year's postseason. They also face a goaltending controversy, as they sat their starter, Stuart Skinner, in Game 5, and the move backfired.
It'll take a heroic effort from the Oilers, but the path to a championship is in place if McDavid can take a page from a childhood idol.