Connor McDavid has reached new heights in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Same goes for Nathan MacKinnon.
Despite the good vibes of conquering past disappointments and silencing critics, both superstars 鈥� with 11 career individual NHL awards between them 鈥� are far from satisfied with the task only half complete.
McDavid鈥檚 Edmonton Oilers and MacKinnon鈥檚 Colorado Avalanche open the Western Conference final Tuesday in Denver after slaying some of their spring demons.
The Oilers had reached the second round just once in McDavid鈥檚 career prior to this month, while MacKinnon and the Avalanche failed to advance beyond the same stage each of the last three post-seasons.
What a difference a couple weeks can make.
Edmonton is now in the third round for the first time since 2006. Colorado鈥檚 last trip to hockey鈥檚 final four was all the way back in 2002.
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鈥� NHL (@NHL) May 30, 2022
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鈥淵ou really have to enjoy the journey,鈥� MacKinnon, the No. 1 pick at the 2013 draft, said after his team beat the St. Louis Blues in six games to move on. 鈥淭he job鈥檚 not finished, but that鈥檚 a great accomplishment for us. We鈥檝e been (through) some dark times.
鈥淣ice to get over this hump.鈥�
The first overall selection in 2015 had similar thoughts on the heels of his club鈥檚 impressive five-game disposal of the favoured Calgary Flames in the first playoff Battle of Alberta in 31 years.
鈥淲e feel like we鈥檙e a good team,鈥� McDavid said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e playing good hockey 鈥� it鈥檚 only gonna get harder.
鈥淲e鈥檝e had great belief in our group for a long time. Even when we were going through some tough times, we stuck with it.鈥�
The tough times in Edmonton are well-documented for a once-proud franchise that won the Cup five times between 1984 and 1990.
The Oilers missed the playoffs 10 straight seasons after falling to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 7 of the 2006 final.
Edmonton also made the second round just once in six pervious campaigns with McDavid and Leon Draisaitl beginning in 2015, including three springs devoid altogether of playoff hockey.
And even more recently, the Oilers were in danger of missing this post-season dance before interim head coach Jay Woodcroft replaced the fired Dave Tippett in February and led the team to the NHL鈥檚 second-best record over the 38 remaining games to finish No. 2 in the Pacific Division.
The Avalanche 鈥� Cup winners in 1996 and 2001 鈥� have had more regular-season success in recent years, but three straight second-round exits weighed on an uber-talented group that also includes Mikko Rantanen, Gabriel Landeskog and Cale Makar.
MacKinnon and Landeskog have been in Colorado for the tough times when the team was at the bottom of the standings, the good moments, and the heartbreak.
鈥淥ur team has changed a lot over the last handful of years 鈥� taking ownership of this team and what we鈥檙e doing,鈥� said Landeskog, the Avalanche captain. 鈥淩ewarding getting over this hump, but at the same time, we鈥檝e got a big goal in mind.
鈥淚 feel like the best is ahead.鈥�
Fans will be expecting just that from two rosters loaded with speed, skill and lethal power plays.
McDavid and Draisaitl lead the post-season with an astounding 26 points each in 12 games, while Evander Kane tops the goals race with 12.
On the other side, MacKinnon, who鈥檚 tied alongside Makar with 13 points, took over Colorado鈥檚 series against St. Louis for an Avalanche group that often looks like its been shot out of a cannon at puck drop.
鈥淯sually the best players in the world get really geared up when they鈥檙e playing the other best players in the world,鈥� Woodcroft said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e in a business where naturally everybody is ultracompetitive.
鈥淵ou want to show well.鈥�
Colorado finished the regular season second in the overall standings with 119 points, 15 clear of Edmonton.
All three of the teams鈥� meetings came in the last six weeks of the schedule, with the Avalanche winning in a shootout and overtime, and the Oilers securing the only regulation victory.
鈥淭he pace in those games was excellent,鈥� said Woodcroft, whose team combined with the Flames for an outrageous 45 goals in their five-game series. 鈥淭he speed and skill of the players involved speaks for themselves.
鈥淚鈥檝e learned in this playoffs not to try and predict anything.鈥�
But what each second-round series also showed was that both the Oilers and Avalanche are about more than just elite, high-end talent. Edmonton got big performances from players like Kane and Zach Hyman, who scored six times against Calgary, while Darren Helm bagged Colorado鈥檚 dramatic late winner in Game 6 versus St. Louis.
鈥淚t takes everybody up and down the lineup,鈥� McDavid said. 鈥淚t takes an absolute army.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e certainly driven by our leaders,鈥� Woodcroft added. 鈥淏ut I can tell you those guys are great teammates, and they believe in their teammates. We would not be where we鈥檙e at right now unless we had great contributions from everybody on our roster.鈥�
READ MORE: McDavid nets OT winner as Oilers beat Flames 5-4 to reach Western Conference final
Edmonton鈥檚 coach said his team鈥檚 performances against the Avalanche in that trio of games gave a group still trying to find its footing a new level of confidence.
鈥淚t showed that we have what it takes to play with the best in the league,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t comes down to an extra play made either way. We know the challenge that鈥檚 before us.
鈥淭he league has narrowed again.鈥�
And the margins are only going to get tighter for two sets of players in uncharted territory.
鈥淲e have some players who are playing in their first playoff games,鈥� Woodcroft said. 鈥淎nd then you have (goaltender) Mike Smith, who鈥檚 40 years old. He鈥檚 been in the conference finals twice in his career. That鈥檚 how special it is to be in this position. We鈥檙e aware of that. It doesn鈥檛 happen every year.
鈥淲e want to take full advantage.鈥�
Because neither team knows when a similar opportunity will knock again.
Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
