“A lot more attention to the defensive details, a lot more grit, a lot more simplicity. Not turning pucks over, getting pucks in deep. Going forward, especially without Leon [Draisaitl], we definitely need to be playing like that. And even when Leon comes back, we need to still play that. It’s a playoff-hockey-type game that we just played.”

“Goal-scoring is something that has not come easy to me or naturally to me,” McDavid said. “Something that I work at, something that I focus on and set it at the beginning of the year, trying to shoot more pucks and take pucks [to the net].”

“When you’re getting up to some of these bigger numbers, it’s a reflection of time past. It’s my 11th year in this league, and you don’t get those back. I’m fortunate to have played with some really great players, I think that’s the main thing. These milestones are just a nice time to reflect and I’m just very grateful to play in this league. I’ve played with some great players.”

“He’s got a great release, but I just think he’s so difficult to check, and he’s determined to get to the net. So many players have the ability to score goals, but they just don’t pay a price. And Connor obviously is not afraid to drive to the net.”

“The guys, they were doing everything in their power to help me, whether it’s practice or games. They support me. They were there with me, and they pushed me. And I think that’s all you could ask for from them. They played great in front of me tonight. They were blocking shots. They were getting pucks out, clearing rebounds, and it made it really easy for me tonight.”

“We did a lot of good stuff defensively, but I think we didn’t have our usual aggression and our pace. We didn’t have the puck enough, so we let them maneuver too much with the puck. I would have loved to be more aggressive.”

“We obviously just didn’t have enough of a pushback, in the third especially. We’re down two goals in a game, fighting for a playoff spot against a team who’s also fighting, and we didn’t even make them work for it, didn’t make them earn it. Disappointing. It’s on us.”