Down the stretch in Game 7, the Oilers players looked exhausted. McDavid and company had essentially played the final six minutes of the third period, leaving them exhausted for the final minute or so.
Meanwhile, the Panthers deployed defensive unit after defensive unit, keeping the Oilers in check.
In total, McDavid played more than 25 minutes, Hyman 24, Draisaitl 22, Bouchard almost 28 and Ekholm 26. In contrast, fourth lineman Derek Ryan played just a touch under seven minutes in the entire game.
Much like the points above, having more of a credible scoring line would have allowed the Oilers to rest McDavid and Draisaitl down the stretch.
That strategy would have allowed Knoblauch to load up the top unit for a six-on-five empty-net situation with a couple of minutes left.
In Toronto’s case, the club must prioritize building a legitimate second line. Assuming Matthews and Marner play on the first unit, the second line should be lethal.
The combination of Nylander and John Tavares didn’t seem as effective as needed. Perhaps the Leafs could target a solid second-line centre, moving Tavares to the wing. A second line of a legitimate top-six centre, Tavares and Nylander on the wings, would be enough to keep opposing head coaches up at night.
