What is it that sets Connor McDavid apart from other NHL superstars?
With the pressure starting to boil and the ground beginning to shake under the Oilers' bench, it was one of those moments where a game, and maybe even a series, teetered on the brink.
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The Dallas Stars just turned the volume up to 10, having closed Edmonton's 3-0 first-period lead to 3-2 midway through the second. They were coming back. Every fan in the American Airlines Center believed it and every player on the Dallas bench knew it.
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They were going to erase a 3-0 lead, win Game 5 and never look back. There's no way the Oilers could recover from such a soul-breaking defeat.
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The next goal was everything.
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Two minutes later, Connor McDavid took a shotgun and blasted every breath of air out of that balloon of hope. He read the play, jumped on a loose puck, used his thoroughbred speed to stay a step ahead of Roope Hintz and executed a breakaway deke that looked like somebody accidentally hit the fast forward button on a replay.
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And, just like that, the Oilers were back in charge, on their way to another Stanley Cup Final.
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'All things considered, my hockey brain says that's probably one of the nicest goals I've seen him score,' said Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl, who's seen all of them in his 10 years as McDavid's teammate.
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'Just the whole situation, how it played out, who he had coming up behind him. That's a big-time play. There is only one player in the world who can do that in that moment and we're very fortunate to have him on our side.'
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Ain't that the truth. In a playoff year where eight-figure superstars all over the league couldn't live up to the weight of the moment, McDavid continues to elevate when it matters most.
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Everyone remembers how he took his game to another level, delivering out-of-this world performances against Calgary and Los Angeles at breaking points in those series. Or how he scored the game winner for Canada in the Four Nations pressure cooker. Or how he racked up 42 points in 25 playoff games last year.
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'I've seen Connor do it numerous times last year in the playoffs and, before I was coaching, watching him on TV,' said Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch. 'It's really remarkable how he and Leon have really elevated their game at this time.'
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A team needs its highest-paid guys to be difference makers in the clutch (ask the Toronto Maple Leafs) and the Oilers are blessed in that respect. They have a handful of them. Their most highly-skilled players are also their best big-game players.
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There are more important things in life than making money and climbing the greasy pole to success and over the coming year you will find yourself pursuing goals of a more spiritual nature. Remember: The more you help others the more the universe helps you. Don't let the fact that you recently said something you regret spoil the whole week for you. If you have feelings of remorse the only way you are going to get past them is to seek out those you wronged and say sorry. Make sure you mean it. You should know by now that there is no such thing as something for nothing in this world. If you gained handsomely from someone's generosity the universe will expect you to be generous in return. How can you make them happy today? Do what you can to help a friend in need but don't put yourself out to such an extent that your own plans suffer. This may be one of those occasions when the best advice you can give them is to toughen up and sort it out themselves. You can sometimes be too nice for your own good and the planets warn it would be a mistake to let someone off the hook for an offense they should be penalized for. If you don't feel able to punish them then just ask someone who will. You may be an outgoing Leo but you need to spend some time alone today to get your thoughts in order. Only then will you be able to push ahead with your plans while ignoring your critics, of which there may be more than a few. This is a great time to approach employers and other powerful people and let them know about your latest big idea. Don't wait for them to invite you to speak, take the initiative and let them know who you are and what you can do. The time is fast approaching when you will be in a much better position to push ahead with your plans, so get both your personal and professional houses in order and be ready to seize the initiative when the moment arrives. Leave your rivals trailing. You have been endowed by the universe with an incredibly strong willpower and if you go after a goal of some sort over the next few days there is no doubt you will reach it. Try not to tread on too many toes along the way though! If a partner or loved one makes a mistake of some kind today you are advised to pretend you did not notice and to carry on as usual. They will know that you know, of course, but your sensitivity to their plight will earn their considerable gratitude. You can at times be a bit too serious and your main aim today should be to lighten your mood so you can enjoy life more. Time spent with a friend who makes you laugh could be the best investment you have made in a long time. Be open about what you intend to do over the next few days and invite loved ones to join you in the journey. Because you are such a self-contained individual others tend to see you as overly aloof and that's an image which needs improving. The more upheavals there have been on the home front of late the more receptive partners and loved ones will be if you offer them an olive branch. You don't have to admit it was all your fault but you do have to shoulder some of the blame. Discover more about yourself at
