Connor McDavid was four games into his NHL career before last night, totaling one goal and seven shots in Edmonton’s 0-4 start. However, his speed and skill were apparent, his first NHL goal was behind him, and he was primed to explode sooner rather than later. Unfortunately for the Flames, they were the first, and hopefully for the Oilers, many victims to come in the 18-year old’s career.
With two goals and one assist, McDavid had his first multi-point game and is almost a point-per-game player totaling four in now five games.
The first strike broke the 1-1 tie late in the second period, a huge momentum shift in the latest edition of the “Battle of Alberta.”
Using defenseman Kris Russell as a screen, McDavid sees an open far side on goaltender Jonas Hiller being the left shot on the right flank, burying a trademark wrister that the hockey world has been following for quite some time. That’s gotta give the kid some confidence.
Being as humble as the former Erie Otter is, he had to mix in an assist while he was at it, and boy was it a pretty one all the way around.
Hiller and defenseman Mark Giordano have a bit of miscommunication, but McDavid is smart to pounce. He steals the puck, makes a wonderful no-look pass to Benoit Pouliot who does the same to former first overall pick Nail Yakupov to create a 4-1 lead. It was a case of the next goal being the “next goal,” all too important especially when facing a team as resilient as the Flames(11 comeback wins in 2014-15).
Building off his helper and strike, McDavid was primed to dazzle, and nearly had a goal of the year candidate. It was Hiller however, who would come out victorious.
Stealing the puck at the blueline, #97 seemingly slowed the game down, making another Flame miss and putting the Flames goaltender out of position. Hiller was able to have the wherewithal to deny the phenom, making an incredible stop to keep the game at 4-1, an incredible play all the way around. McDavid would not be denied however, before the night was done.
After the team won the Draft Lottery in April, former first overall pick Taylor Hall had some advice for the newest would-be member of that club:
Hey @cmcdavid97 left shot black tape left side
— Taylor Hall (@hallsy04) April 19, 2015
However, it was Hall setting up McDavid for his second strike of the night.
A thread of the needle indeed.
All told, McDavid was big for the Oilers in getting their first win of the year. There are still plenty of holes to fill on the team as a whole, but seeing the 2015 first overall pick have a big night for the first time is a great sign not only for the individual, but for the team as well.
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