Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid recently reached the 1,000-point milestone, becoming the fourth-fastest player in NHL history to achieve this feat, trailing only legends Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Mike Bossy.
When you factor in the advanced technology, systems, and nutrition that shape today’s game, along with how much stronger and faster the opposition has evolved, McDavid’s accomplishment becomes even more spectacular. Moreover, every time he reaches a milestone, it makes me pause and appreciate what we’re witnessing—because with each one, it sinks in a little deeper that he’ll likely be the best player I’ll ever see playing in their prime during my lifetime.
With that in mind, Zach Laing recently compiled a list of all the players who contributed to McDavid’s 1000-point milestone. Building on that, below is a breakdown of the 12 times the Oilers’ captain absolutely dominated with a five-point night or more.

First-Ever 5-Point Game vs. Toronto Maple Leafs on Feb. 11, 2016

At 19 years old in his rookie season, McDavid recorded his first-ever five-point night against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Feb. 11, 2016, playing in only his sixth game after missing 37 due to a clavicle injury. Playing on a line with former Oilers Jordan Eberle and Benoit Pouliot, McDavid had an amazing night, factoring in on all five goals in the 5-2 win. The Ontario native scored two goals and added three assists, while Eberle netted his first career hat trick.
At the time, former Maple Leaf Jake Gardiner said, “He’s right up there with the best guys in the League, for sure. Such a young guy, to be this good is surprising, for sure. I’ve heard a lot of things about him, but actually seeing him play, he’s pretty good.” As we now know, McDavid went on to prove that “pretty good” was quite the understatement, recently becoming the fourth-fastest player to reach 1,000 points.

5-Point Game vs. Tampa Bay Lightning on Feb. 5, 2018

When the Tampa Bay Lightning visited Rogers Place on Feb. 5, 2018, the Oilers’ captain had a night to remember, recording his first four-goal game and finishing with five points. He scored in four different ways—a breakaway tally, a bank shot off a leg, a deflection tip-in, and a tough angle shot.
McDavid’s four goals in the 6-2 win marked the first time an Oiler had achieved the feat since Sam Gagner’s incredible eight-point night in 2012. Additionally, the eventual Art Ross Trophy winner from that season, still on his entry-level deal, reached his performance bonus targets on his five-point night, surpassing the 20-goal and 60-point marks and earning an additional $425,000 in bonuses.

5-Point Game vs. Philadelphia Flyers on Oct. 16, 2019

On Oct. 16, 2019, in a game where the Philadelphia Flyers outshot the Oilers 52-22, including a franchise-record 25 shots in the third period alone, it was Edmonton that came out on top, winning 6-3.
The victory was fueled by McDavid’s big five-point night and former Oilers netminder Mikko Koskinen’s outstanding performance, making 49 saves. The centerman tallied one goal and four assists, including an early helper just over a minute into the game on Leon Draisaitl’s goal.
At the time, McDavid became only the second Oiler to record 17 or more points in the first seven games of a season, joining Gretzky, who achieved the feat five times.

6-Point Game vs. Colorado Avalanche on Nov. 14, 2019

At the time, Colorado Avalanche goaltender Adam Werner was making just his second career NHL start on Nov. 14, 2019, and McDavid was likely licking his chops before the game, thinking, “It’s points night, baby!” The captain delivered in style, recording his first-ever six-point game with three goals and three assists.
Additionally, McDavid’s three power-play goals included his hat-trick marker in the second period, tying the Oilers’ record for most power-play goals in a single game—a feat previously achieved by Glenn Anderson (twice) and Taylor Hall (once). It also marked the 242nd instance in NHL history of a player recording six or more points in a game.

5-Point Game vs. Nashville Predators on March 2, 2020

On March 2, 2020, the Oilers visited the Nashville Predators, and the game was knotted at 3-3 heading into the third. Edmonton then exploded for five goals in the first five minutes of the final frame, with their dynamic duo leading the charge.
The superstar centerman took control, scoring the go-ahead goal in the final frame and helped secure an 8-3 stomping by the end of the night. McDavid finished with his fifth career five-point night (one goal, four assists), while his ‘ride or die,’ Draisaitl, netted the first four-goal game of his career.

5-Point Game vs. Ottawa Senators, Featuring Stuart Skinner’s First NHL Win

During the shortened 2021-22 season, the Oilers found themselves in the North Division, battling it out with the other Canadian teams. When they went toe-to-toe with the Ottawa Senators, they couldn’t be stopped, winning all nine matchups.
McDavid casually put up a five-point night, but on Jan. 31, 2021, Draisaitl stole the spotlight with a six-point performance. With Draisaitl setting a career-high for points in a game, dishing out six assists—he was just one short of tying Gretzky, and Billy Taylor Sr.’s record for the most assists in a game. On this night, it was also netminder Stuart Skinner’s first career NHL win in an 8-5 victory.

5 Point Game vs. Calgary Flames on Feb. 20, 2021

On this winter night in February 2021, McDavid came out hot, picking up a couple of assists within the first six minutes of the game on Hockey Night in Canada against their provincial rivals, the Calgary Flames, and he would crank up the heat even more as the first period went on.
He scored his first of the night with three minutes left in the first period, then added two more in the second to complete a natural hat trick, finishing with five points in a 7-1 thrashing of the Flames—his seventh career five-point night.

5-Point Game vs. Seattle Kraken on Dec. 30, 2022

The Oilers’ captain entered the game against the Seattle Kraken in December 2022 on a 16-game point streak. With Draisaitl out of the lineup due to injury, the former Hart Trophy winner extended that streak to 17 games with another magical five-point night, as Baggedmilk mentioned at the time:
“Can we just take a minute to appreciate how ridiculous it is that Connor McDavid has 72 points in only 37 games? He’s a cheat code, he is the Game Genie, he is the one. He is truly remarkable and we are so lucky to watch him on a nightly basis.”
McDavid was a puck-dishing machine that night, registering four primary assists and scoring the seventh goal to cap off a five-point performance as the Oilers defeated the Kraken 7-1.

5-Point Game vs. Anaheim Ducks on Nov. 26, 2023

The superstar centerman had a slow start to the 2023-24 season but started to find his mojo by the end of November. After registering four assists against the Washington Capitals in his last game, he came out of the gates like a man on fire against the Anaheim Ducks on Nov. 26, 2023.
He produced three primary assists, added a secondary helper and elected to shoot on a three-on-one as he recorded his ninth career fifth-point night against the Ducks. At the time, in a week, McDavid jumped from 108th in the NHL’s scoring race with 13 points into a tie for 13th with 25 points.

5-Point Game vs. Philadelphia Flyers on Jan. 2, 2024 – Reaches 900-Point Milestone

McDavid’s 10th career five-point game came against the Flyers for the second time on Jan. 2, 2024. The captain scored a goal and added four assists, but more importantly, he hit a major milestone, recording his 900th career point in the second period with a ridiculous behind-the-back pass to Zach Hyman, who made no mistake burying it.
Moreover, the Ontario native notched his 900th career regular-season point in just his 602nd game. In the 5-2 victory, McDavid became the fifth-fastest player in NHL history to reach 900 points, trailing only Gretzky, Lemieux, Bossy, and Peter Stastny. Looking back, it’s wild to think that just over 11 months later, he’d hit the incredible milestone of point #1000.

6-Point Night vs. Detroit Red Wings on Feb. 13, 2024 – 600th Assist Milestone

At this point, it’s pretty clear—there are nights when McDavid makes the opposition look like beer leaguers, considering the number of multi-point games he’s racked up in his career.
On Feb. 13, 2024, McDavid tied his career-high for points in a game, dishing out six assists against the Detroit Red Wings, including an incredible four assists in the third period alone. In the 8-4 domination of the Red Wings, he also recorded his 600th career assist, becoming the fourth-fastest player to reach that milestone in just 616 games—behind only Gretzky, Lemieux, and Bobby Orr.

5-Point Playoff Game vs. Los Angeles Kings on April 22, 2024

Edmonton faced the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the playoffs for the third consecutive postseason, and McDavid welcomed his former teammate, Cam Talbot, to the rivalry in dominating fashion as the Oilers cruised to a 7-4 victory in Game 1 on April 22, 2024.
The eventual Conn Smythe Trophy winner tallied five helpers, becoming just the 13th player in NHL history to record five assists in a playoff game, as the Oilers went on to eliminate the Kings in five games last postseason.
McDavid, at only 27 years old, has already hit the 1,000-point milestone in just 10 seasons—a truly remarkable achievement. And while reaching 2,000 points might sound like a fantasy, if anyone can make it a reality, it’s the five-time Art Ross Trophy winner who can. That said, with so many incredible nights to choose from, which McDavid game is your all-time favourite?

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