On a historic night Connor McDavid hits 1,000, sets up winner

November 15, 2024

24

Published Nov 14, 2024 • Last updated 13 minutes ago • 5 minute read

The Edmonton Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl (29) hands the puck to Connor McDavid (97) after McDavid scored his 1,000th career point against the Nashville Predators during second period NHL action at Rogers Place, in Edmonton Thursday Nov. 14, 2024. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia

Connor McDavid added his name to the NHL history books on Thursday night, scoring his 1,000^th career point in a 3-2 Overtime triumph.

Edmonton was the better team for most of the night, forcing Nashville keeper Scott Wedgewood to stand on his head.

A late mistake sent the game to extra time, but the same trio that opened the scoring closed it for a 3-2 win.

For the second game in a row, the Oilers PK was perfect although the Power Play fired blanks in four tries.

Advertisement 2

Article content

But the big story was Connor, so lets get to it.

Here is the tale of the tape…

CALVIN PICKARD. 6. Allowed the 1-0 on the first shot of the game but it was a lovely deflection through traffic that the goalie had zero chance at. Strong the rest of the period to keep it a one-goal game. Big stops on Tomasino, Forsberg (short side) and Del Gaizo (from the point). Forsberg rang a post. Earlier third period stop on Evangelista. The 2-2 goal? I tend not to blame a goalie on a breakaway. But you cannot argue that he opened up the 5-hole on the play. Looked to have made a breakaway pass to McDavid in O/T but there was a really quick whistle. Stopped 21 of 23 for the victory. Had a few “moments” handling the puck but none came back to haunt him.

CONNOR McDAVID. 9. Registered career NHL point 1,000 on a one-timer over the pad but under the glove, off a perfect pass from Leon Draisaitl. That brought the Rogers Place crowd (including Connor’s proud Dad) to their feet for an extended standing ovation. McDavid is the fourth fastest player to reach that lofty milestone. Jack Michael’s “A player for the ages” seemed perfect words for the occasion. Had a dangerous bank shot on his first shift. Fed Leon for a one-timer on the first PP. A wicked wrist shot later in the frame. And another chance off a Nugent-Hopkins setup. Unable to bury a power play feed from Draisaitl later in the first. Dangerous wrister on a 2-on-1 break in the third. A no-look back-hand pass to Nurse for the 3-2 OT winner. Eight shots in a dominant 24:57! Named the First, Second and Third Stars of the game on a historic night.

Article content

Advertisement 3

Article content

RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 5. Unable to get over to the wall and seal off the rim from Bouchard on the 1-0. Good chance part way through the first. Fed Connor for a dangerous chance late in the first. A pair of excellent defensive plays on the PK toward the end of the second. Had dropped back to cover Emberson but shaded too far to the middle and could not get back in time on the 2-2. Four shots.

ZACH HYMAN. 5. Blocked shot in the third after extended pressure in the D-zone. Defensive play earlier in the sequence eventually led to the McDavid goal. Dangerous shot in OT. Put in the requisite work but not much rhymed for him.

EVAN BOUCHARD. 7. An exciting rush right up main street for a chance early in the first. Attempted to ring the boards but there was no winger on the wall. The resulting shot from the point deflected home for the 1-0. Drew a second period trip. Good defensive stick disrupted a developing 2-on-1 in the second. Smart neutral zone read & strip in the third. Played 25:44 to lead the Oilers D-corps. High Dangers 5v5 5-3. Led the team in CF at 22-12, 65%.

MATTIAS EKHOLM. 7. Fed Hyman for a dangerous chance in OT. Three blocks, three hits. High Dangers 5-2. Solid, physical, reliable.

Advertisement 4

Article content

LEON DRAISAITL. 8. Early chance off a Perry pass and drew a PP in the process. One-timer on the man advantage but the Nashville goaltender got across in time. Another chance from a Perry feed. Set up McDavid for a PP opportunity late in the first. But it was a 2-on-1 feed slid across to McDavid that did the trick, with ninety-seven one-timing the puck home for the 1-0 and point number 1,000. Drew a late second period PP. Smart defensive play in the D-zone late in the third. Key to the winning goal, as he held the zone patiently then fed a charging McDavid whose pass was netted by Nurse. Four shots. Dominant performance at both ends.

VASILY PODKOLZIN. 5. Terrific chance in front off a Nurse point shot. Hard work on the PK late in the second. Can’t buy a goal.

COREY PERRY. 6. He and Draisaitl certainly had some chemistry in this one. Sharp feed to Draisaitl for an early chance, and one again later in the frame. Leon set up Perry for a second period chance. Took a late second period cross-check call.

DARNELL NURSE. 8. Skated miles and was highly effective. Headman pass to Draisaitl to earn the second assist on his long-time teammate Connor 1,000^th point. Fired a shot above the Nashville Goalie’s shoulder for the 2-1. Then hammered home a one-timer off a McDavid pass in 3v3 OT for the 3-2 win. Four hits led the team. High Dangers 3-1 5v5.

Advertisement 5

Article content

TROY STECHER. 4. A sweet feed to Henrique for a point-blank look in the second. But he spent much of the night in his own end.

ADAM HENRIQUE. 4. Hard one-timer off a terrific pass by Stecher. But was in chase mode a lot.

MATTIAS JANMARK. 5. Just missed a back-handed chance short-handed off a beauty of a feed by Brown. Secondary assist on the 2-1 goal. Fine third period back-check.

CONNOR BROWN. 5. A beautiful short-handed feed to Janmark in the second. Terrific third period forecheck.

BRETT KULAK. 6. A solid defensive play in his own zone started off the rush that resulted in McDavid’s 1,000. Fed a pass over to Nurse who fired home the 2-1. Just a tremendous play to get back and eliminate Evangelista who had a breakaway. The far man on the 2-2 goal. Would you have liked him to read that play and drop back sooner? Yes. High Dangers 5v5 3-3.

TY EMBERSON. 4. Hard work led to a PK clear in the second. Failure to get a puck deep turned into a Nashville chance at the other end. Caught flat-footed in the O-zone on the 2-2 goal but there should have been support behind him.

DEREK RYAN. 5. First period blocked shot. Good on the PK. Did not lose a draw.

Advertisement 6

Article content

JEFF SKINNER. 5. Skinner was all around it. A couple of first period shots. Just missed a back-hand chance in the second. Just missed a chance short side seconds later. Yet another shot that almost found net early in the third. His best effort in a while.

TRAVIS DERMOTT. 4. Played sparingly (5:12, eight shifts). One giveaway.

The Oilers season record goes to 9-7-1. To Toronto next.

Now on Threads @kleavins. Also, find me on Twitter @KurtLeavins, Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey, and Mastodon at [email protected]. This article is not AI generated.