Connor McDavid did Connor McDavid things again Thursday night, and this time it took every bit of overtime and a shootout for the Edmonton Oilers to finish the job.
McDavid forced the extra session with a late goal, then finished with five points as the Oilers edged the Carolina Hurricanes 6-5 in Edmonton. He posted two goals and three assists, pushing his season total to 31 points through the first 10 games. That puts him in rare company: Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy and Wayne Gretzky are the only NHL players to hit 30 points in 10 games or fewer.
Leon Draisaitl matched the big-night energy with two goals and three assists of his own, while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins supplied the shootout winner and added a goal and an assist. Nugent-Hopkins also made his season debut after missing time with a lower-body injury suffered during training camp. The 33-year-old now stands alone atop the franchise record books for seasons played with Edmonton at 16.
The Oilers had to rally late just to get to overtime. Down to the final 1:28, they pulled goalie Devon Levi for an extra attacker, and McDavid put a shot on net that went in off Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s skate for his eighth goal of the season.
Edmonton is now 8-1-1, has won three straight and seven of its last eight.
For Carolina, Jackson Blake, Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, Logan Stankhoven and Juuso Valimaki all found the net. Jarvis scored in his first game of the season after returning from offseason shoulder surgery. The Hurricanes, the defending Stanley Cup champions, have dropped two of their last three.
Levi stopped 22 shots for Edmonton, while Brandon Bussi made 16 saves for Carolina.
The Hurricanes visit St. Louis on Saturday night, and the Oilers host Toronto on Saturday night.
In Other News...
Jalen Chatfields Future Is Becoming A Real Hurricanes Concern
The Hurricanes blue line may be heading toward a familiar late-summer question, and Jalen Chatfield is right in the middle of it. Carolina and the steady defenseman were unable to come to terms on a contract extension, leaving a meaningful piece of the teams back end without the kind of clarity the organization would prefer before the season picture sharpens.
There have been no talks since the Hurricanes and Chatfields agent last tried to negotiate an extension, which only adds to the sense that this could drift deeper into uncertainty. Chatfield has been a reliable part of Carolinas defense, and the current read is that he may be headed toward free agency if nothing changes, a development that would leave the Hurricanes weighing both his value now and the cost of replacing it later. [Read more 🡒]
Kochetkovs Hot Start Raises A Bigger Hurricanes Question
Pyotr Kochetkovs start has given Carolina exactly what it wants on the surface: six straight wins in six starts to open the season. The save percentage has not exactly screamed dominance, but the Hurricanes have long been the kind of team that asks its goalie to do more with less volume, thanks to a defensive structure that suppresses shots and tilts the ice in their favor.
What makes Kochetkovs run more interesting is the way it fits Carolinas larger identity. The puck-possession edge can make life easier in one sense, but it also means the goalie has to stay sharp through long stretches with little action and then deal with the tougher looks that do get through. For Kochetkov, the bigger question is not just whether the wins keep piling up, but how sustainable this kind of workload really is over the course of a season. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Just Drew A Line In Connor Hellebuyck Talks
The Hurricanes have adjusted their pursuit of Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, and the latest wrinkle says a lot about how Carolina likes to operate. According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the club has revised its trade offer by removing prospect Alexander Nikishin from the package, a clear sign that Carolina is willing to stay in the hunt without paying every price tag attached to one of the market's biggest names.
The offer has not been accepted yet, which keeps the situation fluid for everyone involved. Buffalo and Utah are still in the mix, waiting to see whether Winnipeg will bite on Carolinas updated proposal, and the next move could ripple well beyond this one negotiation if the Jets decide to hold firm or set a different bar for the rest of the market. [Read more 🡒]