McDavid NHL’s top gun
EDMONTON, Alberta — Connor McDavid needs some time to think about his most recent accomplishment.
The captain of the Edmonton Oilers hit the 100-point mark and Jordan Eberle recorded a hat-trick as the Oilers beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-2 on Sunday night in the final regular-season game of the NHL season.
McDavid had a pair of assists and ended the season with 30 goals and 70 assists in 82 games.
He is the only player to reach 100 points this season. Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks tied for second with 89.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” McDavid said of winning the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s leading scorer.
“It was a stressful time down the stretch with (teammate Leon) Draisaitl battling to be in the top 10 (in scoring) and my battling for the Art Ross. We tried to have as much fun with it as we could.”
Edmonton will open the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs at home against the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday.
“It will be very exciting,” Draisaitl said. “The crowd is going to be buzzing and loud. Everyone in this city is excited and so are we. We are looking forward to this and I think it is going to be a very fun series.”
Drake Caggiula and Draisaitl also scored for the red-hot Oilers, who have won 12 of their last 14 games and nine in a row on home ice.
Canucks forward Bo Horvat said they knew it was going to be a challenge with the Oilers looking to go into the playoffs on a roll.
“We knew McDavid was going to be pushing for 100 points and I’m sure the whole team wanted to get it for him,” he said.
“I’m sure they wanted to have a good finish to the season, going into the playoffs. They played great tonight.”
Match-ups:
EAST: The Washington Capitals, who led the league in regular-season points, face the Toronto Maple Leafs while the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins have home-ice advantage against the rival Columbus Blue Jackets in the Metropolitan Division.
In the Atlantic Division, the first-place Montreal Canadiens take on the wild-card New York Rangers while the Ottawa Senatorshave home ice against the Boston Bruins.
WEST: The Central Division champion Chicago Blackhawks open against the wildcard Nashville Predators, and the Minnesota Wild have home-ice advantage against former coach Mike Yeo and the St. Louis Blues.
In the Pacific Division, the Anaheim Ducks face the wildcard Calgary Flames while the Oilers, in the playoffs for the first time in 10 years, open at home against the defending Western Conference champion San Jose Sharks.