McDavid gets 1,000. NHL points, 4th fastest to reach milestone

EDMONTON — Connor McDavid was close to collecting his 1,000th. NHL points on his first shift against the Nashville Predators at Rogers Place on Thursday, nearly stuffing the puck behind the goal line on a play.

Eager to reach the milestone at home with his father Brian in attendance, the Edmonton Oilers captain got there in picturesque fashion instead at 2:44 of the second period, burying a one-timer off a pass from teammate Leon Draisaitl on a 2-on-1 rush.

With the goal, the 27-year-old became the 99th player to reach 1,000 points and the fourth-fastest to get there, accomplishing the feat in 659 games (341 goals, 660 assists). Only Wayne Gretzky (424 games), Mario Lemieux (513) and Mike Bossy (656) did it faster.

“Just seeing the way the players responded means everything to me,” McDavid said. “Obviously my teammates were happy and to hear the fans, that means more to me than any of the numbers or anything like that. It was a really special moment, honestly. These milestones are a good time to reflect and a great time to look back on. It’s been a great 10 years and hopefully 10 more.”

Usually on the other end of a 2-on-1, like the one that fed Draisaitl, McDavid got a good shot, then lost a rim, but regained his balance and drifted backwards into the corner, where he was mobbed by his teammates as Oilers poured off the bench.

On his way to the celebration, Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm collected the puck and passed it to Draisaitl, who along with Darnell Nurse earned the assists on the historic goal. It was fitting that the three of them were in it, given that they’ve been through the wars together for the past decade.

“It’s actually pretty fitting. If there could have been a third assist, you’d also like to get (Ryan Nugent-Hopkins) in there somehow,” Draisaitl said. “It’s definitely fitting, all three of us got in at the same time year after year, three years in a row and knew each other for a long time. We’ve become lifelong friends off the ice, and it’s a good story.”

As the pileup in the corner disappeared, McDavid, Nurse and Draisaitl remained in an embrace, prolonging the moment. Draisaitl then handed the puck to McDavid as the two skated back to the bench together.

That was McDavid’s performance, but the others played a role in helping him get there. Between assisting each other, or both assisting on another player’s goal, Draisaitl and McDavid tallied the same goal 445 times on the march to 1,000 points. Nurse and McDavid reported 103.

“It means everything,” McDavid said. “They’re teammates, guys you go to battle with, the guys that have been here forever through the good times and the bad times. You build a brotherhood, you build a bond, and we definitely got that.

“These moments are a good time to look back and appreciate the things and the people that mean a lot to you. Those two are definitely both.”

The three combined again at 2:33 of overtime when Nurse converted a superb back-to-back feed from McDavid — career point No. 1,001 — to give Edmonton a 3-2 win. Reaching the milestone wouldn’t have been the same if the Oilers hadn’t been able to pull out the win after giving up the tying goal with 2:48 left in the third period.

“The three of us started as kids basically and we’re 10 years into it together,” Nurse said. “You’ve been through ups and downs together and special moments like this and milestones like this, everyone’s a part of it. It’s a special moment and I’m so happy for Connor that he can celebrate all the work that he provides.”