Edmonton’s standout pair has certainly impressed throughout December. Connor McDavid tallied five assists and Leon Draisaitl netted three goals in the Edmonton Oilers’ 5-1 triumph over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday. Zach Hyman contributed a goal and two assists, Evan Bouchard added two helpers, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also found the back of the net for the Oilers (19-13-6), who have won four of their last five games and boast an 8-2-1 record in their past 11 matches. This successful run has propelled Edmonton to a tie with the Anaheim Ducks for the top spot in the Pacific Division.
“We aim to secure a playoff spot,” stated Draisaitl, emphasizing the team’s determination following their losses in the Stanley Cup final over the last two seasons. “At the beginning of the season, we weren’t satisfied with our performance. We knew we had more to offer. Everyone stepped up, improved their game, and now we’re on a positive streak, looking to maintain our momentum.”
In December, McDavid and Draisaitl continued to dominate as the league’s top two point scorers. McDavid, named the NHL’s first star of the week for the second consecutive week on Monday, extended his points streak to 11 games on Tuesday. With 12 goals and 19 assists in this stretch, he leads the league in scoring with 67 points. McDavid now ranks second in NHL history for the most 10-game point streaks, with 18, trailing only Wayne Gretzky’s 31.
Draisaitl, on the other hand, has recorded points in 10 of his last 11 games, registering five goals and 19 assists during this period. His hat-trick on Tuesday propelled him to third place in Oilers history for goals scored, surpassing Glenn Anderson with 417 goals, and trailing only Gretzky and Jari Kurri.
Together, McDavid and Draisaitl accumulated 55 points in December. Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch commended the duo for their exceptional performance, acknowledging that their stellar play has been instrumental in the team’s recent success.
Edmonton’s victory over Calgary marked McDavid’s 45th game with four or more points, tying him with Jari Kurri for the second most such games in Oilers history. Draisaitl praised the team’s alternate jerseys, highlighting their positive record while wearing them. Connor Ingram, making his second consecutive start in net for the Oilers, delivered a solid performance, earning praise from McDavid for his reliability.
The Oilers, with the league’s best power play, capitalized on 3 of 6 man-advantage opportunities against the Flames. Following the holiday break, the provincial rivals will face off once again in Calgary, with the Oilers set to play 13 of their next 18 games at home, where they hold a strong 10-3-3 record.
Looking ahead, McDavid expressed optimism about the team’s upcoming schedule, emphasizing the importance of capitalizing on their home games to make a significant push in the standings.