Connor McDavid Point Streak after hit from Drew Helleson, Digi Mart USA News (Edmonton): Connor McDavid continued his torrid pace to start the season on Thursday, although he had to pick himself up off the ice to do so.
The Edmonton Oilers captain extended his season-opening point streak to 17 games by scoring a goal and adding three assists in a 5-4 loss to the Anaheim Ducks at Rogers Place. McDavid has a League-leading 44 points (10 goals, 34 assists) during the streak.
However, much of the talk after the game centered on the hit from Anaheim defenseman Drew Helleson at 8:06 of the first period, which sent McDavid crashing into the left post.
McDavid stayed down on the ice for a moment before getting up to voice his objection to the hit. The exchange produced a scrum that resulted in teammate Vasily Podkolzin being assessed a major penalty for fighting, an instigating minor and a game misconduct.
“Obviously, it’s a play that is a little sensitive to me,” McDavid said. “Those are plays that I’ve been really, really hurt on before.
Going into the end wall, going into the net, those type of plays I find to be dangerous.
“I think people have me pegged as some type of robot, but I’ve got feelings and emotions, too. When that comes out it can rattle a game up.
Obviously, I appreciate the response from (Podkolzin).”
McDavid’s sensitivity to the hit is understandable. During his rookie season in 2015-16, he broke his left clavicle after crashing into the end boards following a collision with Philadelphia Flyers defensemen Michael Del Zotto and Brandon Manning while driving toward the net.
Then in 2018-19, in the final game of the regular season, McDavid sustained a small PCL ligament tear in his left knee after he was tripped by Calgary Flames defenseman Mark Giordano and crashed into the right post.
“Like the Giordano play and the play in my rookie year, you’re going Mach 1 into the net, and those are dangerous plays in my opinion and a situation I find myself a lot in,” McDavid said. “It’s obviously close to home for me.”
Thankfully, the hit from Helleson did not result in an injury. McDavid briefly went to the dressing room after the play to be evaluated, though he returned later in the period looking no worse for wear.
“I was just making sure things were good,” McDavid said. “I don’t think anyone really knows what it’s like to go Mach 1 into the net or into the end wall.
It takes a second, obviously. It’s a play that is close to home for me because those are the plays that have really, really hurt me.”
McDavid does not expect an open lane whenever he takes the puck hard to the net. He simply wants opposing players to be cognizant of the dangers that can result from certain decisions.
“I think everybody understands what they are doing in that type of situation,” McDavid said. “I’m not expecting him to give me a free pass.
He makes that decision, I make my decision. That’s just the way it is.
You’re going to hit me like that and there’s going to be a response, that’s just the way it is.
“I wish that we treated the net like we treat the end wall. If I do that to him going Mach 1 into the end wall, that’s a five-game suspension and everything.
The net is just as dangerous in my opinion with the goalie there, the post there. It’s just as dangerous.
Those are dangerous plays, for me, for the goalie.”
McDavid is leading the NHL with 44 points, and he has more assists (34) than the next closest player in the scoring race has total points. Teammate Leon Draisaitl has 31 points.
With his four-point night, McDavid is on pace for a 217-point season, which would be the most by any player in NHL history. Wayne Gretzky had 215 points in 1985-86 and reached at least 200 points three other times: 212 in 1981-82, 208 in 1984-85 and 205 in 1983-84.
Mario Lemieux finished with 199 points in 1988-89.
