Article – As the Avalanche and Oilers prepare to battle for a chance at the Stanley Cup, all eyes are on the elite offensive talents who have dominated these playoffs. The Western Conference Final showcases perhaps the most electrifying collection of skill we’ve seen in years.
I’ve covered NHL playoffs for nearly a decade, and this matchup brings together three of hockey’s most dynamic performers in Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Mikko Rantanen—each playing at the peak of their considerable powers.
“This series has potential to be something special,” veteran hockey analyst Craig Button told me yesterday. “We’re talking about generational talents who can change a game in seconds.”
McDavid and Draisaitl have formed hockey’s most lethal partnership since the Oilers eliminated the Canucks. McDavid has already amassed 25 points through two rounds while Draisaitl leads all playoff scorers with 10 goals. Their performance against Vancouver was nothing short of historic—becoming the first teammates since Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr in 1992 to each record 17+ points in a playoff series.
Standing in their way is Colorado’s Finnish star Mikko Rantanen, who’s quietly built his own case as playoff MVP. Without injured teammate Nathan MacKinnon for stretches, Rantanen has shouldered the offensive load with 8 goals and 9 assists through two rounds.
“Rantanen doesn’t get the same attention, but he should,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar explained after their last series win. “His ability to take over games is remarkable—especially when we’ve needed him most.”
What makes this matchup particularly fascinating is the contrasting approaches. Edmonton relies heavily on their dynamic duo, with McDavid and Draisaitl sometimes playing upwards of 25 minutes each night. The Avalanche, meanwhile, deploy Rantanen within a more balanced attack that’s survived despite significant injuries.
During last week’s Game 7 against Dallas, I watched Rantanen control play whenever he touched the puck. His six-foot-four frame makes him nearly impossible to knock off the puck, yet he maintains the hands and vision of a much smaller player.
The statistical comparison through two rounds tells an interesting story:
McDavid: 12 games, 6 goals, 19 assists, 25 points
Draisaitl: 12 games, 10 goals, 14 assists, 24 points
Rantanen: 13 games, 8 goals, 9 assists, 17 points
According to data from Hockey Reference, all three players rank in the top five for points per game among players with at least 10 playoff appearances.
Beyond the numbers, each brings a distinct style. McDavid’s otherworldly speed remains his greatest weapon, while Draisaitl combines physical dominance with perhaps the NHL’s most lethal one-timer. Rantanen excels as both finisher and playmaker, particularly dangerous below the goal line where his reach creates scoring chances seemingly out of nothing.
“We know exactly what we’re facing,” Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters after yesterday’s practice. “They have game-breakers just like we do. Our challenge is containing their top guys while making sure ours have space to create.”
For fans in Edmonton, expectations couldn’t be higher. The city has waited 18 years since their last appearance in the conference finals and 34 years since their last Stanley Cup. During my visit to Rogers Place last week, the anticipation was palpable throughout downtown.
“This feels different than 2022,” longtime season ticket holder Marie Cunningham told me outside the arena. “We believe this team can go all the way because of those two,” she added, pointing to her McDavid and Draisaitl jerseys.
Colorado fans have more recent success to celebrate, having won the Stanley Cup just two years ago. Yet the hunger remains, especially with their core players in their prime years.
The tactical chess match promises to be fascinating. Edmonton’s power play, converting at an astounding 36.8% clip, faces Colorado’s disciplined penalty kill that’s limited opponents to just five power-play goals all postseason.
“Special teams could determine everything,” former Avalanche defenseman John-Michael Liles noted on his podcast yesterday. “If Edmonton’s power play stays hot, Colorado has no margin for error when it comes to taking penalties.”
Both teams also arrive with question marks in net. Stuart Skinner has been inconsistent for Edmonton, while Alexandar Georgiev has faced criticism despite Colorado’s success. Neither goaltender ranks among the playoff leaders in save percentage, suggesting this could become a high-scoring affair.
The series opens tomorrow night in Denver, with the Rogers Centre ready to host Games 3 and 4 next week. If previous rounds are any indication, hockey fans are in for a treat as three of the sport’s most gifted offensive talents share the spotlight on their quest for hockey’s ultimate prize.
As Wayne Gretzky—who knows a thing or two about Edmonton playoff magic—said on TNT’s broadcast last night: “We might never see this level of talent in a conference final again for a long time. Enjoy every minute of it.”
