Connor McDavid became the fourth-fastest player in NHL history to reach 600 assists by adding six to his remarkable career total across 616 matches as the Edmonton Oilers won 8-4 at home to the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday.
NHL all-star skills specialist McDavid extended his excellent run of home form to 12 goals and 33 assists in 19 games, posting six assists for the second time in his career, having first achieved the feat in November 2019.
“I thought we had a couple lucky ones,” a modest McDavid said. “I think the first one was a little lucky. I play with some good players, obviously, and tonight was a good night.”
Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch was more fulsome in his assessment of McDavid’s masterful display, if not his team’s 18th win in 20 matches.
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“If he’s not on top of his game, we’re probably not winning that one,” said Knoblauch. “His stats sheet says it all: six assists, plus-6, no power-play time and he was skating. He was one of the few guys who was skating for a full 60 minutes, and the plays that he made tonight were pretty phenomenal.”
The Oilers scored five goals in the third period, while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins contributed two goals and an assist and Evan Bouchard provided one goal and set up two.
Connor McDavid assists feat continues fine February
“We were fortunate to be tied and we did a good job of turning our workrate up, simplifying – a lot of the cliched stuff, but the stuff that works,” said McDavid, speaking about his team’s reaction after the second period.
Fewest games to 600 career assists, NHL history
Wayne Gretzky 416
Mario Lemieux 514
Bobby Orr 608
Connor McDavid 616 pic.twitter.com/VYz0y5z3Lv— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) February 14, 2024
NHL legend Wayne Gretzky leads the way in the all-time race to 600 assists, doing so in 416 appearances, followed by Mario Lemieux (514) and Bobby Orr (608).
Gretzky was one of two players ever to have made more assists in a game, producing seven on three occasions, as did Billy Taylor once for the Red Wings in 1947.
Pittsburgh Penguins veteran Kris Letang is the only player aside from McDavid to have registered six this season.
The result continues a memorable month for McDavid which began in lucrative fashion for the 27-year-old thanks to his involvement in the NHL’s skills competition.
The Oilers captain won the fastest skater, stick handling, shooting accuracy and obstacle course fields at the event to secure a $1 million prize.
