The 1,000 NHL career points club has just gained its 99th member. Connor McDavid cemented his place in NHL history on Thursday, recording his 1,000th career point against the Nashville Predators in a special night for both him and all of Edmonton.
McDavid has started the season strong, and everyone knew it was only a matter of time before he reached this historic milestone. With 2:44 gone in the second period, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived.
During a four-on-four play, Leon Draisaitl, McDavid’s best friend and superstar teammate, fed McDavid on a 2-on-1 breakaway. McDavid ripped a one-timer for his sixth goal of the season and the 1,000th point of his career. The entire Oilers team poured onto the ice to swarm and congratulate McDavid on the incredible achievement.
Connor McDavid reached 1,000 points
The 1,000th point came in McDavid’s 659th NHL game, making him the fourth-fastest player in history to reach the milestone, trailing only Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Mike Bossy. He also became the fourth-youngest to reach this mark and did so in 98 fewer games than Sidney Crosby and 211 fewer than Alex Ovechkin.
Now, the hunt is on for 2,000 points—a feat that doesn’t seem impossible given that McDavid is only 27 years old.
McDavid teared up
After the game, McDavid couldn’t hide his emotions about reaching the milestone and seeing how much it meant to his teammates, coaches, and fans. As he was interviewed in front of the crowd, he teared up and choked up, saying:
“You guys are making me emotional now. I’m getting emotional in my old age,” McDavid said.
“All of us have grown up on this ice. To score the overtime winner at Nursey, Leo, the three guys that had been here—we grew up here, we grew up on this ice in front of you guys. Your support means the world to us.”
McDavid then received warm applause from the home crowd, who wouldn’t stop cheering for their captain, now forever etched in NHL history as one of the greatest players in league history.
READ MORE: The San Jose Sharks invites 65-year-old goalie to practice
