The spectacular Connor McDavid celebrated his 26th birthday in the best way Friday in San Jose. He hit the 80-point plateau in a 7-1 landslide victory for the Edmonton Oilers over the Sharks.
Number 97 is on course for the best season of his career on the Bettman Tour. In 44 games, he has already amassed 37 goals and 82 points.
The last players to score 80 points in as few games were Mario Lemieux, Ron Francis and Jaromir Jagr, who achieved this feat with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1995-96.
Witnessing his performance of two goals and an assist, Sharks captain Logan Couture might only salute McDavid’s prowess following the game.
“He’s always been amazing,” he told NHL.com. He is the best player in the world. He does special things. It’s on a whole different level. Few players in the world can skate like him. Looks like he’s not even touching the ice.”
True to form, McDavid showed humility. He highlighted the playmaker talents of his teammate Leon Draisaitl, accomplice of his two successes, who was also playing his 600th game in the National Hockey League.
“I received two excellent assists from [Draisaitl], so that helped, he said. I feel good, but I think above all of our group. We try to chain the good results and take it one day at a time, a bit like we did in the second half of last season.
Season in halftones
Although the Oilers have four 20-goal scorers in their ranks in McDavid, Draisaitl, Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, they are struggling to cling to the last echelon giving access to the playoffs in the Conference. West.
With a record of 23-18-3, the Alberta team must settle for fifth place in the Pacific Division. She will have to put her foot on the accelerator by the end of the calendar to try to win at least one elimination round for a second consecutive year for the first time since 1998.
While not perfect in the eyes of head coach Jay Woodcroft, Friday’s game is a good example of what the Oilers are capable of.
“We were lucky in some ways tonight [vendredi], but we performed the task as we wanted, he concluded. We got two points thanks to a contribution from several players in the line-up.
The Oilers might make big gains in the standings by disposing of their next two opponents, both section rivals. They will face the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday and the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday.
