With three points in the Edmonton Oilers’ 5-2 victory over the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night at Rogers Place, Connor McDavid returned to the top of the National Hockey League in scoring.
Quebecer Jonathan Huberdeau had temporarily taken the lead the day before with three assists against the New York Islanders. The Florida Panthers forward brought his total points to 111.
McDavid, who has also reached the 70 assists mark this season, is now 113 points, three away from equaling his personal best set in 2018-2019. He and Huberdeau have now played an equal number of games, 76, but the Panthers must play one more duel.
Johnny Gaudreau of the Calgary Flames is still third in the Art-Ross Trophy race with 108 points. Leon Draisaitl, also of the Oilers, added a 106th point against the Stars and is fourth.
The Edmonton team was dominant, bombarding Dallas goaltender Scott Wedgewood with 49 shots, 40 of them in the first 40 minutes of play.
At the start of the first engagement, McDavid went there with a cookie-cutter climb of which he alone has the secret before handing over to Evander Kane at the edge of the net. At the end of the second period, the 25-year-old Ontarian became an accomplice to Jesse Puljujarvi’s 14th success.
McDavid, who else, ended his evening of work well with a goal in an empty net, his 43rd goal in 2021-2022.
Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz were the two players able to find a hole in the wall of Mike Smith, who made 34 saves to help the Oilers record a third straight victory.