The Day After: Connor McDavid’s hunt for 100 points continues
By Zach Laing
3 years agoConnor McDavid really doesn’t care about 100 points.
“Whatever,” is the word he used to describe potentially not hitting the mark, which would need him to score 13 points in the final seven games of the season.
“I want to continue to play good hockey, our group wants to continue to play good hockey,” he further elaborated. “We want to go into the playoffs on a good note. Personally, it’s a number. It’d be different to do it in a shortened season. I’m not going to change anything.
“If not, whatever.”
Last night he added to his total with a three-point performance that included a McDavid-esque highlight reel goal. It kicked off an overall solid team performance in a 4-1 win, one that helps to bury the Flames’ playoff chances.
In the net, Mike Smith stood strong, as he has all season, making huge saves when needed and keeping 23/24 shots out of the net.
For him, he’d love to see McDavid hit the century mark.
“It would interest me very much so. If he does that, we should have a fairly good chance to win some games here in the last bit,” said Smith adding, “nothing ceases to amaze me with this kid. It’s incredible how he continues to get better and better.
“When he gets shut down one game, he’s that much hungrier to get out the next game and help the team win. It says a lot about the maturity of him as a person. Everybody knows how incredible he is on the ice, but I’ve seen a young man grow into the leader of this hockey club and obviously, a huge part of why we’ve had success this year. Impressive to watch a young guy like that take this team on his shoulders and do what he’s done this year.
“It’s an incredible feat.”
For McDavid, it’s a feat he’ll almost surely be able to hit. He’s scored six points in five games against the Canucks earlier this year, but that was the start of the season before McDavid really started to heat up.
Since the Canucks’ return from their COVID-19 breakout, they’ve allowed 3.37 goals against per hour, among the worst in the league. On the contraire, Edmonton’s 3.5 goals for per hour in that time is among the league’s highest.
Connor has five more games against Vancouver, and two against Montreal. I say he does it.
Backhanders…
- Leon Draisaitl recorded his 300th, and 301st career assist last night in his 471st game in the league. A nice feat for what’s become one of the league’s best players.
- McDavid hit a nice feat last night too, playing in his 400th NHL game. He’s scored 556 points in that time, joining some pretty impressive company: Sidney Crosby (554 points), Eric Lindros (563), Jari Kurri (570), Mike Bossy (600), Mario Lemieux (774), Wayne Gretzky (935).
What they’re saying…
That couldn’t have been easy.Or fun.Less than a half hour before puck drop on the Flames’ final Battle of Alberta, Cole Caufield’s first NHL goal plunged yet another stake into the heart of Calgary’s playoff chances.The rookie’s overtime goal gave the Habs wins on consecutive nights to put Montreal up eight points on Calgary, closing the door on any semblance of hope remaining for the Flames.A loss by the Flames three hours later confirmed what many believed to be true when Calgary lost their sixth to Ottawa or their final matchup against Montreal: they’re finished.Asked after Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the Oilers if they found out about Montreal’s win before the game, the Flames lone goal scorer said it was news to him.“Found out from you right now,” Johnny Gaudreau said.You can bet he was in the minority.Either way, the Flames spent the opening ten minutes chasing Connor McDavid and the Oilers unsuccessfully, as the NHL’s leading scorer celebrated his 400th game by picking up two of his three points on the night a mere seven minutes in. – Eric Francis, Sportsnet
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.
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