Connor McDavid is producing in the Stanley Cup Final, but is it enough for the Oilers?

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — It took until 13 minutes left in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final for Connor McDavid to score his first goal of the series, and it was after he and the Edmonton Oilers fell behind 3-0 to the Florida Panthers, on the way to losing and getting pushed to the brink.

Before that, he led all scorers with six assists, and only teammate Leon Draisaitl has more points than McDavid's seven. Of course, the best hockey player in the world is in the spotlight no matter what he does, and he hasn't been able to break out and put the Oilers on his back thanks in large part to Selke Trophy winner Aleksander Barkov and the Panthers keying in on him defensively and slowing him down at all costs.

“It’s not really about me — it’s about us," McDavid said Monday when asked about his play in the series. “I think everybody has another level, myself included.”

Coach Kris Knoblauch thinks it has been a bit of an unfortunate final for McDavid given the amount of scoring chances that just haven't gone in.

“I think Connor's been one of our best players every single night, and that’s what we expect,” Knoblauch said Sunday. “I’ve got no issues with his game. Obviously, our team relies heavily on him and Leon and how they’re playing, but I think that it’s tight checking for everyone and it’s not going to be a midseason game against a non-playoff team when sometimes he’s had 10 or 12 scoring chances. Those numbers are obviously reduced playing against a good team like Florida.”

The Panthers have defended McDavid and Draisaitl “reasonably well," according to coach Paul Maurice, who acknowledged two of the NHL's most talented forwards are bound to get their opportunities.

Barkov's line, with Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart, has been tasked with playing against McDavid, perhaps to the detriment of offense. That's the job, so Reinhart was noticeably upset to give up that late goal Saturday night.

"I’m upset every time they get a goal," Reinhart told reporters in Edmonton. "It’s a team effort defending guys like that. We’ve known all series the challenge is there for us. No one really cares in our locker room who’s producing each night. It’s just a matter that someone is at the right times. And that’s what we’ve had.”

McDavid led all scorers through three rounds playing with Zach Hyman on his right wing. Hyman's right wrist was dislocated, with ligaments torn, on a hit late in the Western Conference final, and left winger Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was bothered by an undisclosed injury during a stretch against Florida.

Loading up by putting McDavid and Draisaitl on the ice together — the so-called nuclear option — has not been used as often because Hyman isn't around.

“With the absence of Zach Hyman, it makes it more difficult putting those two together because of the depth of our lineup,” Knoblauch said. “With what we have right now, to run those two together for long periods of time makes it more difficult for our depth on our team.”

That puts even more pressure on McDavid in Game 6 on Tuesday night to keep the series going, as the Panthers again focus on preventing him from doing anything of the sort.

“He’s an unbelievable player," Barkov said. "He’s probably the best player of our generation. You have to be aware of him every single time he’s on the ice and you have to try to take the space away from him as much as possible and stuff like that. But at the same time, you just concentrate your own game, your own team game, and play that as well as possible.”

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Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid, front right, celebrates after his goal with teammates during the third period in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Florida Panthers' Sam Reinhart (13) and Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) battle for the puck during the third period in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, June 14, 2025. ( Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) defends Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL Stanley Cup final Monday, June 9, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Florida Panthers' Gustav Forsling (42) pokes the puck away from Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) during the second period in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals in Sunrise, Fla., Monday, June 9, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes could be out for “a while” after pulling up with an injury against Aston Villa on Sunday.

United coach Ruben Amorim said Fernandes had sustained a soft tissue injury in the first half of the Premier League game at Villa Park. Villa won 2-1.

“I think it’s soft tissues, so it’s going to take a while. We’ll see," Amorim said.

Fernandes appeared to hurt his hamstring when pulling up.

He played on until the break but was replaced by Lisandro Martinez for the start of the second half.

Fernandes was then seen walking uncomfortably along the sideline as he made his way to the bench for the second half.

“During this year, especially in this time, we have so many problems, but we have to cope with that,” Amorim said.

United is already without Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui, who are playing in the Africa Cup of Nations. Amorim's options were further depleted on Sunday, with midfielder Kobbie Mainoo ruled out with a calf injury picked up in training.

Mainoo would have been the obvious replacement for Fernandes.

Even before Fernandes' injury, Amorim said Mainoo's absence was bad timing.

“He is going to be fine in a few weeks, I think, I don’t know," Amorim said. "Let’s focus on the players that we have and are ready to play."

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Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes, second right, attempts a shot towards goal during the Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Manchester United, in Birmingham, England, Sunday Dec. 21, 2025. (Jacob King/PA via AP)