NHL
McDavid’s Speed and Puck Pressure Produce a Five-Point Night in Utah
Two goals on two shots, three primary assists and four even-strength scoring contributions explain how Edmonton’s captain drove a 6–2 win over the Mammoth.
Connor McDavid scored on both of his shots on goal against Utah, but his five-point night extended well beyond the finishing. He created a power-play chance at the crease, helped turn a point shot into a rebound goal and supplied the pass that sent Leon Draisaitl away on a breakaway. His final goal began with a stolen puck.
The Edmonton captain finished Saturday’s 6–2 win at Delta Center with two goals and three assists in 19:52. Four of those five scoring contributions came at even strength, according to the NHL’s final scoring record. McDavid had a hand in every Oilers goal except Mathieu Joseph’s unassisted first-period finish.
Beating Utah from the outside
The opening goal took 40 seconds. Draisaitl sent McDavid forward, and McDavid carried his speed through the left circle before moving across the front of Karel Vejmelka and finishing on his backhand. The official replay of the opening goal shows McDavid getting ahead of Mikhail Sergachev on the approach to the net.
McDavid’s next contribution required a different route. On Edmonton’s first power play, he put the puck into the area beside Vejmelka’s crease. It reached Zach Hyman, who scored at 13:21 of the first period in his return to the lineup. McDavid and Vasily Podkolzin received the assists. Edmonton had a second goal without needing another finish from its captain.
Three assists, three different opportunities
The assist on Kasperi Kapanen’s second-period goal came from McDavid’s position in front of the net. Evan Bouchard’s point shot glanced off him, and Kapanen collected the loose puck in the slot to score at 10:57. The play rewarded Edmonton’s presence around the crease rather than another rush from its leading scorer.
The next assist came after Utah lost possession in Edmonton’s zone. Mattias Ekholm helped break up the play, and McDavid moved the puck to Draisaitl for a breakaway goal at 13:48. That made it 5–0 and ended Vejmelka’s night. McDavid’s three assists had now involved Hyman at the net, Kapanen following a point shot and Draisaitl attacking open ice.
Utah scored twice early in the third, reducing Edmonton’s advantage to three. McDavid then took the puck from John Marino near the Utah blue line and went in alone to score at 10:17. His second goal restored a four-goal margin and completed his five-point game.
McDavid’s scoring contributions
| Period / time | Scorer | McDavid’s contribution | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st / 0:40 | McDavid | Goal | Even strength |
| 1st / 13:21 | Hyman | Primary assist | Power play |
| 2nd / 10:57 | Kapanen | Primary assist | Even strength |
| 2nd / 13:48 | Draisaitl | Primary assist | Even strength |
| 3rd / 10:17 | McDavid | Unassisted goal | Even strength |
“It’s crazy. He’s flying,” Hyman said after the win, in comments published by NHL.com. McDavid ended the game with 23 points, comprising six goals and 17 assists, through eight games. He had recorded a point in each one.
That production followed a goal and three assists in Edmonton’s October 13 win over Los Angeles. Against Utah, the scoring record again showed how much Edmonton’s attack ran through him: two goals of his own and the primary assist on three more.
Watch McDavid’s second goal · Official final player statistics
