If it wasn’t clear by now, Connor McDavid is in a league of his own each and every night he steps on the ice for the Edmonton Oilers. It also appears the 26-year-old continues to get better with age.
After scoring twice in a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Monday night, McDavid has now set career-highs in goals and points. The craziest part? He’s still got 17 games left to keep it going. Via Cam Robinson:
Connor McDavid has set new career highs in:
• Goals (54)
• Points (124)
• Power-play goals (18)
• Power-play points (58)
• Shorthanded goals (3)
• Shorthanded points (5)There are still 17 games left on the schedule.
— /Cam Robinson/ (@Hockey_Robinson) March 7, 2023
That’s 54 goals and 70 assists for a total of 124 points in just 65 contests for the former first-overall pick. In other words, nearly two points per game. Insane. The power-play goals and points are notable as well because that proves McDavid is doing a tremendous job of taking advantage when opponents are shorthanded.
While he’s already reached a career milestone, the four-time Art Ross Trophy winner is also on the verge of setting an NHL record for the most points in the Salary Cap Era, which began in 2005-06. Per Sportsnet Stats:
Oilers Connor McDavid is on the verge of setting the NHL's single-season points record in the Salary Cap Era pic.twitter.com/6lt8JY3pUi
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) March 7, 2023
Just a point off Joe Thornton and four behind Nikita Kucherov. Connor McDavid could easily surpass the Tampa Bay Lightning winger by the end of the week. The Oilers face the league-best Boston Bruins on Thursday before visiting the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.
We’re witnessing greatness right in front of our eyes. McDavid is undoubtedly a huge reason Edmonton is in the playoff mix right now despite their defensive struggles at times. To put his brilliance into perspective, the last time McDavid failed to register a point in a game was on February 12th when he finished with a -3 against the Montreal Canadiens. In fact, since then, McDavid has posted multiple points in nine of 11 outings.
What a player. Let’s see if he can light up a stout Boston defense later this week.
