Oilers Pull Out Dramatic Win On Connor McDavid's Historic Night

It wasn't quite how you'd draw it up, but it still felt like a fairytale ending.

All eyes were on Connor McDavid entering Thursday's game against the Nashville Predators. Just one point away from 1,000, the entire building was ready to explode in recognition of the league's best player.

Things didn't start the way the Oilers wanted, as the Predators took an early lead courtesy of a Michael McCarron deflection. McDavid was looming, though, with several close calls in the first period. Predators goalie Scott Wedgewood stood fast, however, and Nashville entered the first intermission with their slim lead intact.

McDavid couldn't wait any longer. After forcing a neutral zone turnover at 4-on-4, Darnell Nurse found Leon Draisaitl on the rush to set up a 2-on-1 with McDavid. Despite everyone in the building knowing that Draisaitl would pass the puck, he still found McDavid for a one-timer goal that sent Rogers Place into a frenzy.

The Oilers bench erupted and streamed onto the ice to congratulate their captain, who lingered for a moment after the group hug with Draisaitl and Nurse, his two close friends and longtime teammates.

With Rogers Place rocking, the Oilers wasted no time breaking the 1-1 tie. Just three minutes after McDavid's goal, Brett Kulak found Nurse streaking down the wing, and Nurse found a tiny corner of daylight over Wedgewood's shoulder to give the Oilers a 2-1 lead and notch his second point of the night.

But Nashville wasn't finished. They survived the rest of the second period, and muddled their way through a hard-fought third where they didn't let the Oilers get anything going offensively.

The Oilers certainly haven't made things easy for themselves this season, and Thursday was no exception. With just two and a half minutes left to go in regulation, Predators forward Cole Smith found himself on a breakaway. Kept to the perimeter by the Oilers' backcheck, Smith slid a puck along the ice that just barely squeaked past Calvin Pickard to tie the game.

The Oilers had blown their second consecutive third-period lead.

But it never really felt like the Oilers would lose. Just like Tuesday night, they found a way to pull out an overtime win after a crushing third-period collapse.

And you'll never guess who combined for the game-winner.

Halfway through the overtime period, Draisaitl found McDavid, as he always does. McDavid then did what he does: deked out two Predators and found Nurse with a ridiculous no-look backhand pass. Nurse made no mistake, burying the one-timer to send Oilers fans home happy with a 3-2 overtime win.

"Funny how it works out that way," McDavid said after the game about teaming up with Draisaitl and Nurse on both goals. "Pretty special that it comes from Leo and Darnell."

Player of the Game: Connor McDavid

Who else?

McDavid was at his best tonight, creating chance after chance after chance, and it was never in doubt that he'd hit the milestone on Thursday. It's also no surprise he notched number 1,001 on the OT winner.

"It was only a matter of time," McDavid said after the game. "My dad made the trip today, so it was never not gonna happen."

McDavid is the 99th player ever to reach 1,000 NHL points, the fourth fastest in 659 games (behind Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Mike Bossy), and the fourth youngest behind Gretzky, Lemieux, and Steve Yzerman.

McDavid now has 6 goals and 18 points in 14 games this season, and 9 points in his past three games. He's back, folks.

Play of the Game

Again: what else?

Shout out to Darnell Nurse's excellent breakout pass, as well. Nurse had his best game of the season, with two goals and an assist.

The Oilers have now won three games in a row for the first time this season, and it couldn't have come at a better time. Not only have they won three, but they've been huge momentum-building games. They're now 9-4-1 in their last 14 games, putting them in perfect position ahead of a critical three-game swing through eastern Canada.

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