Predators plot to slow Oilers, Connor McDavid
Connor McDavid, riding a 19-game point streak, leads the Edmonton Oilers into a road game against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.
It will be the second contest of a back-to-back for the Oilers, who defeated the host Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 on Monday night for their third win in four games (3-0-1).
McDavid logged two assists. He has 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) during the streak, which is the longest of his career in a single season.
"I don't know what else there is to say about (McDavid)," said Edmonton defenseman Evan Bouchard, who recorded two goals and an assist on Monday. "He's a leader on and off the ice. Obviously, he drives our team. Yeah, he's been great all season long, so I'm not shocked he's at 19 games right now."
Only Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey had longer point streaks in team history. Coffey produced a 28-game run in the 1985-86 season, while Gretzky had five streaks that ranged from 24 games to his NHL-record 51-game stretch in 1983-84.
"It's tough to do in the NHL when you're playing against the best every night, and not only the best in the league, but the best of the best, because they're usually matching (lines) playing against him," Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. "For him to do that over and over again ... there are nights where he might get some chances and the puck doesn't go in, so you have to be able to generate quite a bit."
Through 46 games this season, McDavid leads the league in assists (50) and points (80). His 30 goals ranks second to the 36 tallied by the Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon.
Edmonton's Zach Hyman collected a goal and an assist against the Blackhawks, Leon Draisaitl also scored and Connor Ingram made 29 saves.
The Predators have won two of their past three, but they have alternated wins and losses in their past seven. One of the defeats was a 6-2 decision in Edmonton on Jan. 6, when McDavid scored three goals.
Nashville came out on top of the visiting Washington Capitals 3-2 on Sunday as defenseman Roman Josi had a goal and two assists. Steven Stamkos added a goal and an assist.
"We talked about on this stretch that we don't want to lose back-to-back games," Stamkos said. "It just felt like one of those games where it was just up for grabs. They pushed a little, we pushed a little. They got a power-play goal, we got a power-play goal. It was just one of those games where, obviously a back-to-back for us, we just had to find a way in the third."
Stamkos notched his 19th goal of the season and 601st of his career, tying him with Jari Kurri for 21st in league history. It also was his 233rd power-play goal, moving Stamkos past Dino Ciccarelli and into 10th on the all-time list.
Cole Smith also scored for Nashville, and Justus Annunen made 28 saves.
"We kind of find ways to win games, which is huge for us," said Josi, the team captain. "I feel like the second (period), they had a lot of pressure. (Annunen) was amazing in net. He's been unreal every game. We said after the second, 'We've got to get back on the attack and take this game.' We found a way."