In yet another remarkable chapter of his storied career, Connor McDavid reached the 1,000-point milestone in the Edmonton Oilers’ 3-2 overtime victory against the Nashville Predators at Rogers Place. The milestone came in the second period when McDavid buried a one-timer off a perfect feed from Leon Draisaitl during a 2-on-1 rush, tying the game 1-1.
The play began with Draisaitl capitalizing on a Nashville line change, turning the puck up ice quickly. As he entered the offensive zone, Draisaitl drew the defender before sliding a cross-ice pass to McDavid. With his trademark speed and precision, McDavid unleashed the one-timer with found its way below the glove of goaltender Scott Wedgewood at 2:44 of the second period. The goal brought the home crowd to its feet in celebration of their captain's historic achievement.
McDavid, now with 341 goals and 660 assists in 659 games, became the fourth-fastest player in NHL history to hit the milestone, trailing only Wayne Gretzky (424 games), Mario Lemieux (513), and Mike Bossy (656). After the game, McDavid reflected on the moment.
“Just seeing the way the players reacted means the world to me,” McDavid said. “To hear the fans—it means everything." "These milestones are a great time to reflect, and I’m proud of the journey so far."
The captain wasn’t finished. With the game deadlocked in overtime, McDavid showcased his elite playmaking ability, delivering a no-look backhand pass to Darnell Nurse. From the top of the right circle, Nurse fired a one-timer past Wedgewood at 2:33 of the extra period, giving the Oilers their third consecutive win and securing McDavid’s 1,001st career point.
The victory, which improved the Oilers’ record to 9-7-1, was lauded by head coach Kris Knoblauch. “Pretty good game, obviously led by 97,” Knoblauch said. “Connor was outstanding." When talking about giving up the lead lately he said, "It’s not a recipe for success long term to give up late goals, but we did a lot of good things tonight.”
McDavid’s milestone comes amidst another dominant season, extending his point streak to three games with three goals and six assists over that span. Leon Draisaitl has factored into 446 of McDavid’s points, underscoring their unparalleled chemistry.
For Oilers fans, McDavid’s achievement is another reason to believe their team can contend for a Stanley Cup. As the captain continues to rewrite the NHL record books, one thing is clear: the best may still be yet to come for Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.