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It took Connor McDavid a mere 50 seconds to electrify Madison Square Garden on Sunday night, as the Edmonton Oilers center opened the scoring with a spectacular individual effort that set the tone for a 4-1 triumph over the New York Rangers.
The win pushed Edmonton's winning streak to three games and preserved their unblemished road record at 7-0-0.
On his very first shift, McDavid took a short pass from Evan Bouchard in the neutral zone, banked the puck off the boards to himself, and accelerated past Rangers defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov before cutting to the net and lifting a shot over rookie goaltender Dylan Garand.
The goal was McDavid's ninth of the season and the eighth opening-minute tally of his career, moving him past Mark Messier for the most in franchise history. It also marked the 418th goal of his NHL career, giving him sole possession of fourth place on Edmonton's all-time scoring list ahead of Glenn Anderson.
McDavid added an assist on Bouchard's second-period power-play goal, extending his season-opening assist streak to 15 games. He reached 30 assists faster than any player in league history, surpassing Wayne Gretzky's previous record of 16 games set during the 1984-85 season.
The 29-year-old finished with 39 points and stretched his season-opening point streak to 15 games for the second time in his career; he previously opened the 2021-22 campaign with a 17-game run.
Forward Colton Dach also played a key role, scoring twice. His first goal came at 6:19 of the opening period to make it 2-0, and his empty-netter with 40 seconds remaining capped the scoring.
Bouchard contributed a goal and two assists, reaching 26 points through 15 games. That feat places him among just four defensemen in NHL history to record at least 25 points in their first 15 games of a season, joining Bobby Orr, Al MacInnis, and Denis Potvin.
Goaltender Matt Tomkins made 27 saves in his first NHL appearance since April 17, 2024, earning his fourth career victory.
Pavel Dorofeyev scored New York's only goal, while Garand stopped 21 shots. The defeat was the Rangers' fourth consecutive loss and their sixth in seven games, and they have now conceded the opening goal in each of their four straight defeats.
The Oilers will look to continue their winning ways when they visit the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night.
Key Analysis
McDavid's early strike not only set a new franchise record but also underscored his knack for delivering in clutch moments. His record-breaking assist pace further cements his status as one of the game's most prolific playmakers, while Bouchard's entry into an elite defensive group highlights Edmonton's offensive depth. The Rangers' ongoing struggles, particularly their habit of allowing the first goal, continue to be a concern as they search for consistency.
Originally reported by yahoo.