Feature photo: Getty Images

Connor McDavid

JAN. 25–31, 2021

• 4-8–12 OVER 4 GP
• CO-LED IN POINTS AND GOALS
• FIVE-POINT NIGHT VS. SENATORS
• EXTENDED POINT STREAK TO 7 GAMES

Connor McDavid co-led the league in points (4-8–12) this week, soaring to the top of the NHL scoring lead for the season with 22 points in 11 games.

McDavid has posted five straight multi-point games, four of them coming last week, punctuated by a five-point Sunday night to finish the month of January on a seven-game point streak. It was the sixth time in his career that the captain of the Edmonton Oilers has recorded five points in a game — the second-most among active players in the NHL (behind Evgeni Malkin with eight).

LOOKING BACK

JAN. 26
1-1–2, 2 SOG, 18:38 TOI

EDM 4
WPG 6 

McDavid recorded a goal and an assist for his second-straight multi-point game in the Oilers’ 6-4 loss to the Winnipeg Jets at Bell MTS Place Tuesday night.

In the first period, McDavid notched his seventh assist of the season by setting up Ryan Nugent-Hopkins with a backhand pass on the powerplay for his teammate’s fourth goal of the campaign.

McDavid then notched his fifth goal of the season as the Oilers  attempted a comeback late in the third period. He made a nice spin move on Jets forward Mark Scheifele before beating netminder Connor Hellebuyck with a great shot.
 

JAN. 28
0-2–2, 25:42 TOI

EDM 3
TOR 4

For the third straight game, McDavid put up a pair of points as the Oilers lost a close game to the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 at Rogers Place Thursday night.

With Edmonton trailing in the second period, McDavid connected with Leon Draisaitl on the powerplay with a perfect setup. The duo connected again in the third as McDavid picked up his second assist of the night on Draisaitl’s second goal with the team on the man-advantage. McDavid, Draisaitl and Nugent-Hopkins led all skaters in the game by playing 25+ minutes each.

JAN. 30
2-1–3, 3 SOG, 23:45 TOI, GWG GAME'S FIRST STAR

EDM 4
TOR 3, F/OT

McDavid lit the lamp twice – including the overtime winner – as the Oilers got back on track with a 4-3 victory over the Maple Leafs at Rogers Place Saturday night.

In the second period, McDavid scored another highlight-reel goal against the Leafs with a solo effort as he charged through Toronto’s defence and beat netminder Frederik Andersen for his sixth goal of the season.

Talking about McDavid’s first goal of the night, Oilers’ head coach Dave Tippett  explained   how McDavid’s speed with the puck makes him such an offensive threat.

''What impresses you the most about Connor when he does that is the speed he carries the puck,'' Tippett said. ''There's a lot of fast players, but to do it carrying the puck and having control of the puck, that's what makes it so dangerous. He's as fast or faster than anybody in the league.

''I would dare to say he's the fastest guy by a wide margin carrying the puck. It's hard to defend.''

The captain wasn’t done there, scoring his second goal of the game in overtime as he connected with Draisaitl to tip in a perfect pass.  

Saturday was also a rare night as McDavid joined fellow former first overall NHL Draft picks Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby in scoring overtime winners within a span of approximately 12 minutes.

JAN. 31
1-4–5, 5 SOG, 17:12 TOI, GWG, GAME'S FIRST STAR

EDM 8
OTT 5

McDavid extended his point streak to seven games with his fourth straight multi-point game of the week as the Oilers beat the Senators 8-5 at Rogers Place Sunday night.

After registering three assists in the first period, McDavid didn’t wait long to get on the scoresheet in the second frame as Draisaitl found him open in the slot just 42 seconds into the period. The goal was McDavid’s eighth of the season, which ties him with Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks for the league lead.

McDavid added another assist in the period on teammate Darnell Nurse’s goal, for his fifth point of the game, helping Edmonton earn back-to-back wins for the first time this season. McDavid wasn’t the only player to have a big performance as Draisaitl recorded six assists to give him 21 points for the season – one point behind McDavid. This marked the third time that the Oilers’ duo each recorded five or more points in a game.

LOOKING AHEAD

McDavid will look to maintain his scoring lead as the Oilers host the Senators February 2 then finish off their week against the Calgary Flames February 6.