Connor McDavid hits milestone as Oilers edge Preds in OT
League: NHL
Posted on: 15 Nov, 2024 at 06:16 AM
Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
Connor McDavid accomplished what the home fans wanted to see on Thursday, and then he allowed them to go home happy as the Edmonton Oilers beat the Nashville Predators 3-2 in overtime.
After collecting his 1,000th career NHL point in the second period, McDavid fed Darnell Nurse in the three-on-three extra period with a no-look, behind-the-back pass. Nurse's one-timer flew past Nashville goalie Scott Wedgewood to extend the Oilers' winning streak to three games.
Nurse finished with two goals and an assist, while McDavid had a goal and an assist. Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl had a pair of assists, including the secondary helper on the winning goal.
That, though, wasn't the only celebration for the Oilers on Thursday.
McDavid tied the score 1-1 with a second-period goal, becoming the fourth fastest and fourth youngest to reach 1,000 career points with some help from a couple of his longtime Oilers teammates.
During four-on-four play, Nurse got a turnover in the Oilers' defensive end, and his feed to Draisaitl in the neutral zone created a two-on-one opportunity with McDavid. As they both continued toward the net, Draisaitl slid it to McDavid, who snapped it past Wedgewood for the milestone point 2:44 into the period.
Less than three minutes later, Nurse got his first goal of the season, beating Wedgewood with a sharp-angle shot near the goal line. Brett Kulak and Mattias Janmark got the assists on the go-ahead goal.
The Predators stayed in the game, thanks to the play of Wedgewood, and they finally converted late in the third period. Cole Smith got a breakaway opportunity and beat Edmonton goalie Calvin Pickard between the pads with 2:48 remaining in regulation. Zachary L'Heureux and Jeremy Lauzon assisted on the tying goal.
As the crowd waited for history, Nashville took the lead on its first shot at 8:22 of the first period. Michael McCarron, alone at the top of the slot, deflected Roman Josi's pass past Pickard.
With the Predators playing the first of back-to-back games, Wedgewood started for the fourth time this season. He made 31 saves as Nashville earned at least a point for the third straight contest (1-0-2).
Pickard saved 21 shots.
--Field Level Media