The Edmonton Oilers closed out their five-game road trip on Saturday night with a meeting with the Carolina Hurricanes. They had lost their last five games, and Connor McDavid said he hadn’t been playing up to his usual standards.
"I'd be lying if I said I've been feeling good out there," McDavid said. "It's been tough to get going, which is obviously not an excuse. I’ve got to find a way to get going here."
Meanwhile, he came into Saturday's game with 699 career assists, looking to become the third NHL player all-time to reach 700 assists in 700 games or less.
He did exactly that with under one second remaining in the game. Edmonton was up 2-1 and had a powerplay with Carolina's net empty. Defenseman Evan Bouchard blasted home a slap shot to secure a 3-1 win, and McDavid got the secondary assist on the play.
Following the game, the Oilers shared a reaction to their star's major achievement.
"❌7️⃣0️⃣0️⃣," the Oilers wrote.
McDavid, 28, is in his 10th season in the NHL after being drafted first overall back in 2015.
The three-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner may be having a down season statistically, but his focus remains on winning a Stanley Cup—especially after falling one game short against the Florida Panthers last year.
"The year hasn't gone the way I would have loved it to, personally. But we're not after personal success." McDavid stated.
Through 54 games, he's recorded 22 goals and 53 assists, on pace to finish well below his 132-point mark from last year.
He and the Oilers will return home for their matchup with the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. Puck drop is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET.
