This game has the potential to bring out the best in each team and each star, and to create highlights. McDavid had three assists in the first game, in Pittsburgh on Nov. 8. On one, he rocketed past defenseman Brian Dumoulin on the right wing, backhanded the puck past defenseman Kris Letang in front and set up Maroon for a tap-in. He had a goal in the second game, at Rogers Place in Edmonton on March 10.
"I don't know if you can necessarily stop him," Penguins defenseman Ian Cole said. "I think you try to slow him down, you try to get in the way, you try to make the game really hard for him. … He's so fast and so explosive, and not only that, he passes the puck as well as anybody at those high speeds.
"You try to play one-on-one against him, not only can he beat you himself, but he'll use that, bait guys over and then make a play. So that's why I think to win a game against a guy like that, you need to play five-man team defense. You've always got to have a forward reloading back, coming to help. You really have to rely on each other to help out in coverage.
"It was certainly a challenge last year, and it'll certainly be a challenge this year."