Philip Maikov, a commentator best known for the podcast Slippery Ice and the HockeyFil YouTube channel, argued that the Edmonton Oilers possess the strongest core among their group. He observed that only the Vancouver Canucks have shown the capacity to match that intensity and to curb their game plans around Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Vancouver has shown adaptability. In the Nashville series, both teams faced heavy pressure and many missteps on both sides. What stood out then was the absence of strict enforcement, which allowed several minor penalties to accumulate. In the Edmonton series, Vancouver found themselves outmatched for a stretch, as Edmonton opened the scoring early in zone entries. Discipline proved to be elusive there, yet the Canucks found a way to make it work through a different approach. Maikov attributes this to their willingness to adjust, to embrace a bold attitude, and to seize opportunities when the game demands it.
The second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs pitted Vancouver against Edmonton, ending in a 3-3 stalemate. The deciding game is scheduled to take place in Vancouver in the early hours of May 21, Moscow time, a clock that emphasizes the global audience and the high stakes involved.
Maikov has long followed Ovechkin’s record and views it as a milestone that will be surpassed in due time. His commentary reflects a belief that talent, strategy, and adaptability converge to shape outcomes on the ice, especially in tightly fought playoff series.