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A former Edmonton Oilers coach could be the main reason why the Anaheim Ducks have been able to shut down Connor McDavid.
The Edmonton Oilers find themselves tied at one game apiece with the Anaheim Ducks in their first-round matchup in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.
While Edmonton managed to get past the Ducks in Game 1, Anaheim came back and took Game 2 on the heels of a gritty effort and an egregious mistake by Connor McDavid.
And that’s been precisely the big issue in the series. The Ducks have been able to contain McDavid. In Game 1, the Oilers won for the first time this season, a game in which McDavid did not register a point.
That was a major accomplishment. Before Game 1 of the NHL playoffs, the Oilers had lost every game in which McDavid had not registered a point. In Game 2, McDavid was again quiet, and the Ducks took the game 6-4.
But there’s a logical explanation for the phenomenon. ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski told insider Jeff Marek what the secret formula is. That formula’s name is Jay Woodcroft.
“It could be the Woody Effect. The, ‘I know all of the secrets of the Oilers, Mr. Quenneville.’”
Woodcroft, who was the former head coach in Edmonton, is now an assistant coach in Anaheim. As such, Wyshynski and Marek mused that Woodcroft could be the one providing in-depth, insider knowledge on the Oilers.
But as Wyshynski pointed out, there’s another crucial factor at play in this series.
Wyshynski made an interesting point about Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville deploying the defensive pair of Jackson LaCombe and Jacob Trouba against the McDavid line. Thus far, it seems to have worked.
“I think we’re seeing copious amounts of Jackson LaCombe and Jacob Trouba, who played the most minutes against McDavid in the first two games of the series.”
That much is true. But what seems confounding is the fact that current Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch hasn’t really found a way to get McDavid away from LaCombe and Trouba.
“You’d think that Kris Knoblauch would be more adept at maybe getting him away from that matchup, if they are in fact winning it.”
“You’d think that Kris Knoblauch would be more adept at getting [Connor McDavid] away from [the Jackson LaCombe & Jacob Trouba] matchup.” @JeffMarek & @wyshynski wonder if Jay Woodcroft is the reason McDavid has been neutralized through two games
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Unfortunately, it seems the Oilers have not found a way to release McDavid from the grip of the Ducks’ best defensive pair. That situation, however, will need to change if Edmonton wants to get past the Ducks this series.
Opponents of highly talented teams like the Oilers essentially have a choice. Such teams have to pick their poison. In this series, the Ducks have chosen to stop McDavid, forcing Edmonton’s depth to step up.
While that’s been the case, the Oilers’ depth hasn’t made up for the porous defense. Edmonton managed to squeak past the Ducks in Game 1, but ran out of luck in Game 2. As such, Game 3 will be the most crucial one in the series. If the Ducks managed to continue shutting McDavid down and could pull off a victory, the Oilers could quickly find themselves struggling to catch up.
Things should only get more complicated for Knoblauch in Anaheim as the Ducks get the last change. That situation means there will be an even smaller chance for McDavid to get away from Trouba and LaCombe.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL and NFL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor's singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor's fondness for baseball, football, and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
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