Connor McDavid can move closer to matching his career-best 20-game point streak when the Edmonton Oilers host the New York Rangers on Monday night.
McDavid has points in the first 18 contests of the 2026-27 campaign after recording three assists in the host Oilers’ 4-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday. The Edmonton captain had a 20-game point streak last season.
McDavid leads the NHL with 47 points (10 goals, 37 assists), 13 ahead of teammate Leon Draisaitl (16 goals, 18 assists). Edmonton defenseman Evan Bouchard is tied for third with 31 points (10 goals, 21 assists).
While McDavid is unlikely to keep up the 2.61 points-per-game pace over the 84-game schedule, he would have 219 points if he does. That would break Wayne Gretzky’s single-season record of 215 (1985-86).
“It’s incredible,” Gretzky said recently. “What he’s doing for his hockey team and for the game and for the city of Edmonton, it’s unmatched right now.”
McDavid also tied Adam Oates (1992-93) for the second-longest assist streak in NHL history. Gretzky had a 23-game run in 1990-91.
McDavid had a goal and an assist in Edmonton’s 4-1 win at New York on Nov. 1, becoming the fastest player in NHL history to reach 30 assists in a season.
Draisaitl took center stage Saturday with two third-period goals and a first-period assist.
The Oilers, who snapped a two-game winless streak (0-1-1), top the Pacific Division and are second in the Western Conference with 27 points.
Oilers coach Mike Babcock said his team benefited from the tight contest, which was tied 1-1 after two periods.
“I’d like to beat them 6-0, but the reality is this was way better for us, and it was way better that they pushed back and we had to stick to doing it right instead of getting all over the place and turning pucks over,” Babcock said.
Zach Hyman returned Saturday with an assist after missing five games due to a neck injury. But Ryan Nugent-Hopkins left early in the second period after being hit in the head by teammate Ryan Shea’s shot.
Babcock doesn’t expect Nugent-Hopkins to miss much time.
The Rangers have won three in a row after holding on for a 4-3 victory over the host Seattle Kraken on Saturday.
New York led 4-0 after the first two periods.
“4-0 lead, maybe we didn’t have our foot on the gas as much (in the third period),” said goalie Joonas Korpisalo, who made 25 saves in his Rangers debut. “They scored one early, they got the momentum, and it’s such a small thing that happens and it kind of turns (the game) all the way around. But it turns out to be a one-goal game.”
Korpisalo was acquired from the Boston Bruins on July 1 but had yet to play this season because of a lower-body injury.
Tye Kartye scored one of the goals against his former team. He has 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 18 games after the Rangers claimed him off waivers from the Kraken last season.
“I think he’s taken advantage of the opportunity that he’s earned. We haven’t handed Tye anything,” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s earned every opportunity that he’s gotten here through his play. He’s a great story right now. He’s a great kid. He’s a terrific teammate. I couldn’t be happier for him.”
