NHL

McDavid’s five-point night ends with a piece of Gretzky history

Connor McDavid’s five-point night ended with an original Gretzky helmet award for Mike Babcock, linking the Oilers’ present to their championship past.

By The Sporting Page Editorial StaffTSP Original
Editorial illustration of Connor McDavid beside Wayne Gretzky’s classic blue Oilers Jofa helmet, with orange 99 on the back.
Gretzky’s classic Oilers Jofa helmet and Connor McDavid in a generated editorial illustration. · Credit: AI-generated editorial illustration / The Sporting Page

Connor McDavid finished with a goal and four assists in Edmonton’s 9-7 win over Vancouver on Thursday, recording his 15th career five-point game, tied for the seventh most in NHL history. Afterward, the Oilers captain brought an original Wayne Gretzky helmet into the dressing-room celebration.

The captain introduced the blue bucket as Edmonton’s new player-of-the-game award. The first recipient was coach Mike Babcock. The players wanted the new tradition to connect the current team to Edmonton’s championship past.

McDavid’s feed gives Shea room to finish

On Ryan Shea’s goal, Vancouver’s attention followed McDavid as the defenseman arrived through the middle. McDavid found Shea with enough room to shoot before a defender could reach him.

The replay frame shows Shea facing Kevin Lankinen through an open shooting lane, with Vancouver’s nearest defenders farther up the ice. Shea scored at 19:32 of the first period to give Edmonton a 4-0 lead.

Ryan Shea shoots toward Vancouver goalie Kevin Lankinen through an open lane after Connor McDavid’s pass.
Ryan Shea has room to shoot after McDavid’s feed on Edmonton’s fourth goal. Image: publisher-supplied Sportsnet/NHL broadcast screenshot.

Earlier, Edmonton’s second goal had started behind the net, a position long associated with Gretzky. Mathieu Joseph, No. 21, sent the puck out front for Owen Michaels’ first NHL goal. Lankinen had to shift his attention from Joseph below the goal line to Michaels in the low slot. Sportsnet’s goal replay.

Mathieu Joseph, wearing Edmonton’s No. 21, controls the puck behind Vancouver’s net.
Mathieu Joseph works behind the net before setting up Owen Michaels’ first NHL goal. Image: publisher-supplied Sportsnet broadcast screenshot.

McDavid also scored shorthanded and assisted on two power-play goals. Edmonton’s 8-2 lead shrank to 8-6 before Leon Draisaitl scored on the power play, with McDavid earning the primary assist. The Oilers held on to win 9-7. NHL game summary.

Gretzky’s Jofa and Edmonton’s winning years

In the dressing room, McDavid explained that the players wanted the award to connect them to Edmonton’s winning history.

“They set the standard for us,” he said in the locker-room presentation.

Gretzky captained the Oilers to Stanley Cups in 1984, 1985, 1987 and 1988, four titles in five years. NHL championship records.

The blue Jofa became part of Gretzky’s familiar Oilers look, with large ear openings in its rounded shell and an orange 99 on the back. An archival game-worn example cataloged by Lelands shows Oilers decals above the ears, along with scuffs across the plastic.

A 1998 Sports Business Journal report described Gretzky’s shell as “paper thin,” citing the manufacturer. Anne Flynn of SHC Hockey, which made the Jofa brand, said Gretzky even removed some of its foam.

The NHL introduced helmet standards in 1997 but allowed players aged 25 and older already wearing non-compliant headgear to keep it. The grandfather clause allowed the familiar old helmets to stay in use as equipment standards changed.

Gretzky, Igor Larionov and Marty McSorley wore similar Jofa helmets, according to 1996 Los Angeles Times reporting.

Two views of Gretzky’s classic blue Oilers Jofa helmet, showing its orange 99 and open ear cutouts.
Archival example of a 1980s Gretzky game-worn Oilers Jofa. Image: Lelands auction archive.

McDavid named Babcock as the recipient during the postgame presentation.

“This is an original Gretz bucket,” McDavid said. “It’s going to Mikey tonight.”