There wasn’t much doubt about it, but Connor McDavid has now cemented his place among the all-time NHL greats. On Thursday, he became the 99th player in NHL history to reach 1,000 points—and of course, it came with help from Leon Draisaitl.
With the Oilers facing the Nashville Predators, who’ve struggled defensively this season, many expected McDavid to hit the four-digit milestone, entering the game with 999 points.
Early in the second period, the moment fans were waiting for arrived. The Oilers broke out on a 2-on-1 during a 4-on-4 play, and Leon Draisaitl set up his best friend and longtime teammate with a perfect pass. McDavid’s one-timer slipped over the pad but under the glove of the Predators’ goalie, and Rogers Place erupted.
Leon Draisaitl’s hilarious comment
McDavid became the fourth-fastest player in history to reach 1,000 points. If there was ever any doubt about his popularity in Edmonton, it was erased in that moment. His teammates immediately jumped onto the ice to swarm him, and the standing ovation from the crowd seemed endless.
Later in overtime, McDavid added an assist on Darnell Nurse’s game-winner at 2:33, earning career point number 1,001.
It was a special night not just for McDavid but also for Draisaitl. The two have been teammates throughout their NHL careers, and both expressed great gratitude for each other after the game. When asked if he ever considered shooting on the 2-on-1 instead of passing to McDavid, Draisaitl gave a simple answer that had fans laughing:
“No,” he said curtly.
Leon was eager for Connor to reach 1,000, and fans found his excitement absolutely adorable. What a moment for Edmonton and for these two very close friends!
READ MORE: Connor McDavid tears up after scoring his 1,000th NHL point
