Connor McDavid knows the haters are going to hate.
The Edmonton Oilers captain is prepared to embrace the underdog mentality with his team trailing the Florida Panthers 2-0 in the Stanley Cup Final.
"I'm looking forward to people doubting us again," McDavid said after Edmonton's 4-1 loss in Game 2. "We're good with our backs against the wall."
The Oilers fell behind the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in Round 2 and were down 2-1 to the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final but managed to win both series.
Rallying against the Panthers will prove to be a much more difficult task, though. Historically, teams that start the Stanley Cup Final down 2-0 have only marched back to win five times in 54 attempts.
"It's another opportunity for our group to come together and dig our way out," McDavid said. "It's supposed to be hard, it's supposed to be difficult. I'm excited to see what our group is made of."
The Oilers have been limited to just one goal in the series courtesy of Mattias Ekholm's opening strike in Game 2.
Leon Draisaitl took responsibility for some of Edmonton's offensive shortcomings.
"We can certainly be better," Draisaitl said. "It starts with me."
He added: "I certainly have a lot more to give. Not my best tonight."
The Oilers will have to wait until Thursday for a chance to rebound in Game 3.
Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.