ANAHEIM — Whether he likes it or not, Tim Washe has become the face of Anaheim’s effort to shut down Connor McDavid.

Washe (pronounced WASH-ee) is a six-foot-three, 212 pound centreman who played five seasons at Western Michigan University, alongside recent Oilers signee Owen Michaels. Both were undrafted and signed as free agents.

Washe ended his college career as the captain at WMU, but has just 41 NHL games under his belt.

Of the 30:17 minutes of ice time he's had this series, almost 18 of Washe’s minutes (17:43) have come head to head with McDavid.

With McDavid going pointless over the first two games, Washe is fast becoming known across the hockey world as “That Guy Out In Anaheim Who Is Shutting Down McDavid.”

Whether he wants the title or not.

“It's a team thing first and foremost. He's on the ice against all of us,” said the humble Detroit native. “It takes everyone on the ice (to) make it as frustrating as possible for him.”

The line is Washe between Rimouski product Jeff Viel and big Ian Moore, formerly a defenceman who has shifted to wing. But you know Washe’s cell phone is buzzing with texts from back home, as this McDavid narrative heats up.

“I’ve got a lot of Canadian buddies, actually, who are........

© Sportsnet