The floodgates were open early and often for the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night, culminating in a convincing 7-4 win in front of a raucous crowd at Rogers Place in Alberta. And Connor McDavid was the catalyst of the offense — as he has been so many times for this club — registering five assists in the opener.
In the process, McDavid became just the 13th player in National Hockey League history to record a five-assist playoff game, and the first since Geoff Courtnall accomplished the feat with the St. Louis Blues back in April of 1998, according to NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman.
The Canadian superstar was also just one apple shy of tying the single-game postseason assist record, which was done by Wayne Gretzky in 1987 and Mikko Leinonen in 1982, per Kimelman.
“I thought we played a really connected game,” the captain said after the Game 1 triumph, per NHL.com’s Gerry Moddejonge. “I thought all five guys were working together even if we had to dump it in, I thought we had good numbers on the forecheck, but ultimately we didn’t have to dump it in all that much because we were connected coming through there, and that’s what it requires.”
As always, Connor McDavid leads the attack
McDavid was the best player on the ice on Monday night, consistently buzzing in the offensive zone and looking dialled in as the Oilers aim to beat the Kings in Round 1 for the third consecutive season.
“Starts are really important, especially against a team as well structured defensively as the Kings are,” the 27-year-old explained. “You have to get out to a good start. It helps if you can score the first one, and it kind of forces them to open up a little bit.”
The Oilers were able to get the first one, and of course, it was assisted by McDavid. The goal was scored by Zach Hyman, who is coming off a career-best campaign in 2023-24 after recording 54 tallies.
Although McDavid remains the focal point of the offense, it was a phenomenal start to the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs for Hyman, who continues to play like a borderline superstar next to the captain.
Zach Hyman crucial to success in Game 1
Hyman finished the game with three goals and an assist on nine shots, with two of the tallies coming at even strength. He was terrific for the Oil on Monday.
“At this time of year, everybody is so focused on winning that it doesn’t matter who scores,” explained the sniper afterwards. “Obviously, that has been a big part of my game this year, so it is important that I am able to produce. But regardless of who scores, we are all pulling on the same rope. It was just a huge effort from the entire group tonight. It was a good win.”
It’s a great start for an Oilers team that is firmly in Stanley Cup or bust territory in 2024. Edmonton dropped Game 1 against Los Angeles in the 2023 postseason, but were able to get the job done this time around on home ice.
It figures to be another electric series between the two Pacific Division rivals, and the Kings need to find a way to contain Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman else it be another early postseason exit in California.
For the Oilers, it’s back to work on Wednesday night as they look to open up a 2-0 lead before the series shifts to Los Angeles next weekend.
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