EDMONTON, AB — Connor McDavid becomes the fourth fastest player to reach 1,000 points by scoring early in the second period of the Edmonton Oilers’ 3-2 overtime win over the Nashville Predators on Thursday night. He became the first NHL player to do so.
McDavid reached the milestone in his 659th game. Wayne Gretzky was the fastest with 424 games, followed by Mario Lemieux with 513 and Mike Bossy with 656.
At 27 years and 306 days old, McDavid is the fourth youngest to reach 1,000 career points, behind Gretzky (23 years and 328 days), Lemieux (26 years and 171 days) and Steve Yzerman (27 years and 291 days). He’s also a player. .
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McDavid has 341 goals and 660 assists. He is the 99th NHL player to reach 1,000 points and the fourth Oilers to do so, joining Gretzky (1,669 points), Jari Kurri (1,043 points) and Mark Messier (1,034 points).
“These milestones are a great opportunity to reflect and reflect,” McDavid said. “It’s been a good 10 years, and I’d like to have another 10 good years if I can. Some of these events have hit me a little harder emotionally than I expected.”
For the milestone goal, McDavid received a pass from Leon Draisaitl on a 2-on-1 break and beat goaltender Scott Wedgewood with a shot at the near post to tie the score at 1.
“It means the world to me just to see the players’ reactions. It means everything to me,” McDavid said. “Hearing the voices of the fans means more to me than any number. It was a really special moment.”
McDavid added his 1,001st point in overtime with a spinning backhand pass to assist Darnell Nurse’s second goal of the game.
“It’s a special moment. Like I said the other day, this is legendary,” said Draisaitl, who accounted for 446 of McDavid’s 1,001 points. “To be able to witness that and be a part of that, and to have watched him grow from the time we first met when he was 18, it’s so cool and it’s really amazing to be a part of that. That’s it.”
It took McDavid just 58 games to go from 900 to 1,000 games. He has six goals and 13 assists this season.
This report used information from ESPN Research and The Associated Press.
