Oilers: Connor McDavid scores 1,000th point

Connor McDavid has additional cemented his legacy within the NHL historical past books.

The celebrity ahead scored a purpose to file his 1,000th profession level and arrange Darnell Nurse’s time beyond regulation winner for good measure as his Edmonton Oilers defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2 on Thursday.

The second the followers had been ready for got here when the groups have been enjoying 4 gamers per facet 2:44 into the second interval. Fittingly, it was Leon Draisaitl who fed McDavid on a 2-on-1 break and he ripped a one-timer previous Predators goalie Scott Wedgewood for his sixth purpose of the season and the 1,000th level of his profession. McDavid has notched 9 factors in his final three video games.

“It’s a particular second. I mentioned it the opposite day, that is legendary stuff,” mentioned Draisaitl, who has factored in on 446 of McDavid’s now 1,001 profession factors. “To witness that and to be part of it and to have seen him develop up from when he was 18 and we first met him, it’s fairly cool, fairly wonderful to be part of.

“I’m very pleased with him, very blissful for him.”

Taking part in in his 659th sport, McDavid turned simply the 99th participant in NHL historical past to hit the magical 1,000 factors plateau for his profession. The Oilers captain turned the fourth-fastest participant ever to succeed in the milestone – trailing solely Wayne Gretzky (424), Mario Lemieux (513) and Mike Bossy (656). At 27, he additionally turned the fourth-youngest participant ever to succeed in 1,000 factors.

“Simply seeing the best way the gamers reacted means the world to me. It means every part to me,” McDavid mentioned. “To listen to the followers, that stuff means extra to me than any of the numbers. It was a extremely particular second.

Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid (hidden) celebrates his a thousandth level with teammates, in opposition to the Nashville Predators throughout second interval NHL motion in Edmonton on Thursday, November 14, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

“These milestones are a good time to mirror and look again. It’s been a very good 10 years and hopefully 10 extra good ones.

“A few of these issues have sort of hit me just a little extra emotionally than I’d have thought.”

To place the 1,000-point milestone in perspective, McDavid did it in 98 fewer video games than Sidney Crosby. The final participant to succeed in 1,000 factors was Toronto Maple Leafs ahead John Tavares, doing so on Dec. 11, 2023, in his 1,109th sport. It solely took McDavid 58 video games to go from 900 factors to 1,000.

In fact, the query got here out, can he presumably get to the two,000-point mark in his profession?

“If not him, who else? That’s the solely query I’ve,” Draisaitl mentioned. “I by no means wager in opposition to Connor McDavid. I’ve discovered that during the last 10 years. It wouldn’t shock me.”

Nurse had two objectives and an help and Draisaitl had a pair of assists for the Oilers (9-7-1), who’ve now earned not less than some extent in 16 of their final 17 video games in opposition to Nashville, going 14-1-2 in that span.

It’s fairly cool to be on the market and be part of one thing that Connor did and labored so arduous for,” Nurse mentioned. “As teammates, it’s wonderful, it’s wonderful what he does each evening and it’s cool when he passes these milestones that he will get to have a good time for.”

Edmonton Oilers’ Darnell Nurse (25) and Connor McDavid (97) have a good time the win over the Nashville Predators throughout time beyond regulation NHL motion in Edmonton on Thursday, November 14, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Calvin Pickard made 21 saves between the pipes for the Oilers.

Michael McCarron and Cole Smith responded for the Predators (5-9-2), who’ve misplaced 5 of their final six.

“I feel the one level’s large,” mentioned Smith, who scored with 2:38 left within the third to finally ship the sport to time beyond regulation. “I feel we’ve bought to attempt to begin getting two factors right here now.

“‘Wedgey’ stored us in all of it evening, and that was large for us. To battle again and get not less than one (level) is massive.”

Wedgewood made 31 stops in web for the Predators.

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Nov. 14, 2024.