For the first time this season, Connor McDavid scored more than three points in a game, helping the Edmonton Oilers easily defeat the Washington Capitals 5-0 at Capital One Arena on Friday.
It has been a while since the captain has felt this comfortable in a game and his performance has fallen slightly short of expectations in the 2023/24 season. This also applied to goaltender Stuart Skinner, who posted a shutout for the first time this season.
Defense has been Edmonton’s biggest weakness so far, but it has shown encouraging signs. Alexander Ovechkin and his teammates couldn’t do anything despite their 25 shots.
McDavid had four assists and assisted on Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Evan Bouchard and Leon Draisaitl (twice). He scored four or more points in 10 games last season, including four before mid-November.
Draisaitl and “RNG” did their stats some good by picking up three points each. The second also scored a good goal by hitting the disc in flight that passed in front of Charlie Lindgren. Evander Kane was the Oilers’ other scorer.
The Capitals, meanwhile, lost forward TJ Oshie early in the second period. The veteran was just breaking through into opponent territory when he was hit high by defender Mattias Ekholm. In pain, the American took about two minutes before getting up again and did not return to the game after that.