Home / Sports / LaCombe Shuts Down McDavid in Playoff Showdown
LaCombe Shuts Down McDavid in Playoff Showdown
1 May
Summary
- Jackson LaCombe is effectively neutralizing Connor McDavid's offensive threat.
- Leo Carlsson is performing at a franchise-level pace this postseason.
- Kasperi Kapanen has significantly boosted his playoff goal-scoring rate.
Jackson LaCombe has emerged as a pivotal figure in the Anaheim Ducks' playoff run, effectively neutralizing Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid through five games. LaCombe's defensive performance has been instrumental in the Ducks' quest to advance.
LaCombe's rise follows a strong 2024-25 season, where he earned an eight-year, $72 million extension. He has continued his stellar play this season, culminating in an invitation to Team USA. His ability to limit McDavid's expected goals per 60 minutes to roughly half his usual rate has been a major storyline.
Beyond LaCombe, Leo Carlsson is displaying franchise-level talent. He's achieved a 57 percent expected goals rate at five-on-five and significantly increased his shot attempts. Kasperi Kapanen has also been a surprise performer for the Oilers, elevating his goal-scoring rate to 1.69 goals per 60 minutes in the playoffs.
The article also highlights other playoff performances. Connor Ingram provided the Oilers with rare above-average goaltending, snapping a nine-game skid. In contrast, Carter Hart of the Golden Knights has struggled, posting a .886 save percentage against an expected .920.
The tandem of Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther shows promise for the Mammoth, dominating possession when on the ice. The Stars are struggling to convert their chances despite controlling possession against the Wild, largely due to the strong play of Kirill Kaprizov and Quinn Hughes.
Other notable mentions include Jordan Spence outperforming Cody Ceci for the Senators, the power play struggles of the Avalanche and Sabres, Nikita Zadorov's defensive contributions despite penalty issues for the Bruins, and Noah Östlund's impactful play for the Sabres.
Anthony Cirelli has been a defensive stalwart for the Lightning against the Canadiens' top line. Shane Pinto had a difficult series for the Senators against Carolina. Frederik Andersen has been excellent in net for the Hurricanes, providing crucial goaltending. Finally, Anthony Mantha has underperformed for the Penguins in the playoffs.
