November was a month to remember for the Edmonton Oilers, with plenty unfolding. Captain Connor McDavid recorded his 1000th career point against the Nashville Predators on Nov. 14. Meanwhile, Darnell Nurse missed a few games after taking a big hit from Maple Leafs’ Ryan Reaves on Nov. 16.
Moreover, Edmonton picked up forward Kasperi Kapanen off waivers, and he’s starting to show some promise, while Vasily Podkolzin has found his scoring touch, scoring three goals in the last three games. The Oilers went 8-4-1 in November, and with things starting to look up for them, we’ve highlighted the top plays from last month.

Nugent-Hopkins’ Behind-the-Back Pass Sets Up McDavid’s Backhander Against Islanders

The Oilers were up 2-1 in the third period against the New York Islanders on Nov. 12, and it could’ve been a much bigger lead if not for the stellar netminding of Ilya Sorokin. That said, halfway through the final frame, the Oilers captain blocked an Islanders clearing attempt that led to a superb setup.
McDavid fed the puck to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins down low, and just as it seemed he was going to shoot, the former 100-point man made a slick behind-the-back backhand pass to his captain. McDavid then went backhand as well, lifting it over Sorokin’s glove to make it 3-1.

McDavid to Draisaitl for OT Winner Against Islanders

True to their Jekyll and Hyde season, the Oilers blew a two-goal lead against the Islanders on Nov. 12, giving up two goals in the third period. But in overtime, Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, and Mattias Ekholm put on a clinic, controlling the play and wearing down the Islanders, which allowed the Oilers to get a full line change in the offensive zone.
Evan Bouchard, Leon Draisaitl, and McDavid were sent out to feast on a tired Islanders squad, and it was like sharks sensing blood in the water. Bouchard fed the puck to McDavid, who quickly passed it over to Draisaitl, and he buried it just over Sorokin’s shoulder for the OT winner. McDavid’s assist on Draisaitl’s goal marked his fourth point of the night, bringing him to 999 career points and setting the stage for a monumental 1000th point in the next game.

Draisaitl to McDavid One-Timer for Point Number 1000

History was made on Nov. 14th when McDavid entered the game just one point shy of 1,000. His Oilers teammates were looking to set him up early to hit the 1000-point milestone, and the magical moment came early in the second period.
Oilers fans are used to seeing McDavid set up Draisaitl on 2-on-1 chances, but this time, it was the German centerman’s turn to return the favour. Darnell Nurse passed the puck to Draisaitl, and everyone in the building knew it was heading to captain. Draisaitl passed the puck over, and McDavid one-timed it past Scott Wedgewood, bringing the entire crowd to their feet at Rogers Place.
The moment was unforgettable as McDavid’s teammates left the bench to congratulate their captain on reaching his 1,000th point, with his father, Brian, in attendance to witness his son become the fourth-fastest player to achieve the milestone.

Darnell Nurse Scores OT Winner vs Nashville on McDavid’s 1000-Point Night

On a night when the Oilers’ captain reached the significant milestone of 1,000 points, the Oilers let the Predators creep back into the game, surrendering the lead as Nashville tied it up with less than three minutes left.
Yet, the hockey Gods have a way of delivering fairytale endings. McDavid’s special night wouldn’t end in defeat, as the same trio that combined for his 1,000th point connected once again. The Oilers gained the zone, and Draisaitl passed to McDavid, who drew the Predators toward him before making a ridiculous behind-the-back pass to a wide-open Nurse. The blueliner made no mistake, burying it for the OT winner, sparking the celebration and prompting the DJ to play ‘La Bamba’ for the 3-2 OT win.

Evan Bouchard Scores Goal of the Year Candidate Against Senators

The Oilers were coming off a tough two-game stretch, including an OT loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs and a shutout loss to the Montreal Canadiens, with Evan Bouchard likely at fault for a couple of the goals against, particularly against the Leafs on Nov. 16.
Yet, he flipped a switch against the Ottawa Senators on Nov. 19 and activated his ‘killer instinct’ mode. Early in the first period, he charged up ice, blew past a Senator, faked a shot, toe-dragged the puck around Thomas Chabot, and tucked it over Linus Ullmark’s glove—a tally that will surely be a Goal of the Year candidate. Moreover, the Oilers’ D-man also added a couple of assists, finishing with three points in a 5-2 win.

Draisaitl Finishes Off a 2-on-1 Against the Rangers

The New York Rangers paid the Oilers a visit on Nov. 23, and the orange and blue were on top of their game, holding a 2-0 lead midway through the second period when the ‘Ride or Die’ duo of McDavid and Draisaitl connected for a fantastic tally.
While playing 4-on-4, the captain picked up the puck in the Oilers’ zone and quickly fed it to Draisaitl as they darted up the ice. They exchanged a couple of quick passes, with the last one coming from McDavid on one knee and the former Hart Trophy winner from Cologne, Germany, finishing off the beautiful passing play.

McDavid Waits and Waits and Waits and Makes Quick Look Helpless

The Oilers had their way with the Rangers on Nov. 23, leading 5-1 halfway through the third period, and the recent 1000-point man picked up the puck in the neutral zone, going in on a 2-on-1 with Nugent-Hopkins.
McDavid put on the brakes, waited, waited, and, you guessed it, waited some more until Jonathan Quick was down and out of position and then the captain fired the puck into the open net. It was a ridiculous goal that showcased incredible patience and served as a reminder that McDavid plays at a level higher than his peers. On a night when the Oilers won 6-2, the captain also recorded a three-point night.

Podkolzin Scores on 2-on-1 Against Utah to Kickstart Comeback

The Oilers had five days off before visiting the Utah Hockey Club on Nov. 29, and it showed as they came out flat in the first period, clearly lacking their legs and falling behind 2-0.
Trailing in the game, the Oilers needed a spark, and Draisaitl’s line delivered. The centerman launched a backhand hail-mary flip pass to Vasily Podkolzin at center ice, who batted it out of the air and gained control. Podkolzin went in on a 2-on-1 with Nurse, faked the pass, and fired a shot five-hole past Karel Vejmelka. That pivotal goal jumpstarted the Oilers’ comeback and marked the Russian forward’s second goal in as many games.

Nugent-Hopkins Leads Oilers to OT Win Over Utah

After falling behind 2-0 in the first period, the Oilers responded with three second-period goals to take the lead but allowed Utah to tie it early in the third on Nov. 29.
Heading into OT, the usual suspects—McDavid, Draisaitl, and Bouchard—couldn’t capitalize on the first shift, and the Oilers turned to Ekholm, Nugent-Hopkins, and Adam Henrique for the next shift. Nugent-Hopkins, who’s had a subpar season so far, dug deep and showed flashes of his vintage self, winning a puck battle in his zone. He darted up the ice with the speed we haven’t seen from him all season, barreled in alone, and delivered on the three guarantees in life: death, taxes, and Nugent-Hopkins sniping low blocker, winning the game for his team.

McDavid Lures Avalanche Players in and Sets up Kapanen

The Oilers faced the Colorado Avalanche on the second night of a back-to-back on Nov. 30, and Kapanen, their recent waiver-wire pickup, was skating alongside McDavid at 5v5 for the third straight game.
Midway through the first period, the three-time Hart Trophy winner turned on the jets, circled behind the Avalanche net, and drew two defenders with him. By the time a third joined in, the captain, with his insane vision, made a backhand pass to the wide-open Kapanen, who buried his first goal as an Oiler. Nonetheless, most of the credit goes to McDavid for doing most of the work, but Kapanen also deserves kudos for reading the play, and knowing when to inch closer to bury the puck, as the Oilers secured a 4-1 victory over the Avs.
All in all, the Oilers put on a show with some incredible plays in November, led by their captain, McDavid, who is definitely hitting his stride. With that in mind, which play was your favourite?