ESPN News Services12:31 AM ET3 Minute Read
BUFFALO, NY — Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid scored twice to take his NHL-leading goal tally to 54 and set a career-high 124 points in Monday night’s 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabers.
McDavid continued to plead to win his third Hart Trophy as MVP in eight seasons with his 12th multigoal game of the season and helped the Oilers to two crucial points in a crowded Western Conference playoff race.
“The finish was world class,” said Edmonton coach Jay Woodcroft of McDavid, who scored the go-ahead goal in a snap by scoring Craig Anderson 3:23 in the third half and less than two minutes after the Sabers equalized the legs beat game at 2.
McDavid’s 124 points in 65 games is one more than a career best he had in 80 games last year, and the all-star center extended his scoring streak to 11 games in which he has 12 goals and 15 assists.
“I saw someone who was competitive from the puck drop,” said Woodcroft. “Connor is in a different evolution of his game right now and I think everyone here tonight saw that.”
A crowd from an Eastern Conference city that McDavid doesn’t often see in person seemed to have their money’s worth, even though hometown Sabers couldn’t pick up two points in the battle for a wildcard spot.
“Who would rather make a big game than him?” said teammate Zach Hyman. “He is the best player in the world and pushes his own limits. He has been a bus driver for a long time and is getting better and better.”
Derek Ryan also scored and Stuart Skinner stopped 37 shots for the Oilers, who improved to 5-4-3 in their last 12 and rebounded from a 7-5 loss in Winnipeg on Saturday.
Jeff Skinner and Dylan Cozens scored for the Sabers and Anderson had 34 stops.
Falling to 6-4 over the past 10 years, Buffalo have continued their season-long struggles at home, losing five of their last seven.
Buffalo (32-26-4) is in the midst of an NHL-worst playoff drought in 11 seasons but remains in the mix and has games in hand at most of its peers. The day started with four points between the seventh-place New York Islanders and ninth-place Buffalo, who were in a four-way tie with teams on 68 points.
Sabers coach Don Granato declined to say earlier in the day if he considers McDavid a step above everyone else in the league out of respect for his young stars. After that, Granato had no choice but to praise the Oilers captain, who scored twice with three shots in the net.
“He’s over 50 for a reason, he doesn’t need many [shots]’ Granato said. “He did that to a lot of teams and goalkeepers and he was ready to capitalize on his opportunities. That makes him special.”
The Oilers (35-22-8) moved with Seattle in third place in the Pacific Division.
After opening the scoring in the first half, McDavid scored the opening goal early in the third half just after Cozens leveled the game.
Warren Foegele powered up the left wing to reach the Sabers’ zone, then spun to meet McDavid in the crotch and cut the middle. McDavid turned left to get past defenseman Jacob Bryson and put a shot through Anderson’s legs.
It was McDavid’s ninth winner of the season after starting the day in a four-way draw in second place, trailing teammate Leon Draisaitl.
McDavid and the Oilers will next take on the NHL-best Boston Bruins on Thursday night.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.