Connor McDavid Extends Point Streak as Oilers Defeat Canucks
Leon Draisaitl scored twice and added an assist to lead the Edmonton Oilers to a 4-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night. Connor McDavid chipped in three assists to extend his season-starting points and assists streak to 18 games. The Edmonton captain now paces the National Hockey League with 10 goals, 37 assists, and 47 points through 18 contests.
Mattias Ekholm and Jason Dickinson also found the back of the net for the Oilers, who improved to 12-3-3 on the year and snapped a brief two-game skid. Edmonton entered the matchup holding a 10-0-2 record when scoring first. Devon Levi returned to the Edmonton crease after missing seven games with an injury, stopping 20 shots to earn his seventh win against one loss this season.
Max Sasson and Brock Boeser supplied the offense for the struggling Canucks, who dropped their fifth straight contest and their 15th in their last 16 outings. Leevi Merilainen turned aside 26 shots for Vancouver. Swedish forward Liam Öhgren failed to extend his scoring streak to three games for the Canucks, ending a stretch where he had netted four goals in his previous five games.
"You miss summer training & you miss camp, then you get hurt again & you're frustrated. We need him to be a huge piece here… I thought tonight was a huge step for him." Coach Babcock on Jason Dickinson's play vs. the Canucks.@Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/Kg1WA07VNQ
Dickinson Scores Early in Third Period to Restore Lead
The Canucks pushed the pace early, as Sasson tied the game 1-1 with just nine seconds remaining in the first period by redirecting a point shot from Jamie Oleksiak over Levi’s glove. I thought it was a pretty good effort. I thought we did a lot of good things,
Sasson said after the opening frame.
Dickinson restored Edmonton’s lead just 49 seconds into the third period, sweeping a backhand past Merilainen on his second rebound attempt. Head coach Mike Babcock praised the forward’s physical involvement and overall play following the win. I’ve told him a bunch of times, he’s not in a slump. He’s been injured, you got to get in shape,
Babcock said of Dickinson.
Edmonton capitalized early in the final frame when McDavid fed Draisaitl for a trademark one-timer on the power play, stretching the lead to 3-1. Evan Bouchard extended his personal point streak to six games, mirroring Draisaitl’s consistency with points in 16 of their first 18 games.
Connor McDavid Chases Historical Marks
McDavid’s three-point night moved him into elite historical company. The Oilers captain matched Adam Oates for the second-longest assist streak in NHL history. Only Wayne Gretzky’s 23-game streak, set during the 1990-91 campaign, stands ahead of it. McDavid also joined an exclusive group as just the sixth player in league history to record a season-opening 18-game point streak.
This setup by McDavid to Draisaitl is perfection 😮💨 📺: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/qAjIlD26Mn pic.twitter.com/Lzpq6L5bU4
The victory kept Edmonton at the summit of the Pacific Division, while Vancouver continued to grapple with a defense that entered the night giving up a staggering 4.61 goals per game. Despite the defensive lapses that have left Vancouver with a minus-30 goal differential, head coach Manny Malhotra’s squad kept the game close for 40 minutes before Edmonton’s top-tier talent took over in the third period.
The Oilers also weathered a brief scare in the second period when Ryan Nugent-Hopkins took a puck to the face. While Nugent-Hopkins missed the remainder of the game, initial fears of a broken jaw appeared unfounded after he tested his readiness to return in the third period.
Jason Dickinson gives the @EdmontonOilers the lead in the first minute of the third period! 🟠🔵 📺: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/qAjIlD26Mn pic.twitter.com/vD2hoH56X0
Upcoming Matchups for Edmonton and Vancouver
Both teams return to the ice on Monday night for their next tests. The Oilers will host the New York Rangers, while the Canucks return home to host the Philadelphia Flyers.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Oilers and Canucks
How many saves did Devon Levi make in his return?
Devon Levi made 20 saves in his first game back from a seven-game injury absence, improving his record to 7-1-0 on the season.
What milestones did Connor McDavid reach in this game?
Connor McDavid recorded three assists to extend his season-opening point and assist streak to 18 games. He tied Adam Oates for the second-longest assist streak in NHL history, trailing only Wayne Gretzky’s 23-game streak set in 1990-91.
Who scored the goals for Vancouver in the loss?
Max Sasson and Brock Boeser scored the goals for the Canucks, with Leevi Merilainen making 26 saves in the Vancouver net.
"He's got all the characteristics of a gamer." With the game tied at one heading into the final 20, the #Oilers went on to score three & find their way back into the win column as Devon Levi made 20 stops. @paigymartin recaps the win from @RogersPlace.@CIBC | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/mpqRH0XeyX
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