Connor McDavid takes step up Oilers' record book in win over Wild

Field Level Media|published: Wed 15th January, 23:47 2025

Jan 15, 2025; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) celebrates his power play goal against the Minnesota Wild during the first period at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images

Connor McDavid had two goals and an assist and climbed into sole possession of second place on Edmonton's all-time points list, and the Oilers pulled away for a 5-3 win over the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night in Saint Paul, Minn.

McDavid's final goal gave him 1,044 career points, which moved him past Jari Kurri (1,043) for the No. 2 spot in team history. The Oilers' all-time leader is Wayne Gretzky with 1,669.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins added a goal and an assist for Edmonton, which won for the seventh time in its past eight games. Zach Hyman and Vasily Podkolzin also scored.

Matt Boldy had a goal and an assist to lead Minnesota. Marco Rossi and Ryan Hartman had one goal apiece, and Mats Zuccarello tallied a pair of assists.

Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard stopped 30 of 33 shots.

Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson gave up five goals on 36 shots.

The score was tied at 3-all before the Oilers struck twice in the third period to secure the win.

Podkolzin tallied the go-ahead goal with 18:32 remaining in the third period. He threw the puck at the net and it deflected off the skate of a Wild defenseman and crossed the goal line.

McDavid made it 5-3 when he kept the puck on a two-on-one break and buried a wrist shot. It was his 19th goal of the season.

The Wild started the scoring with a power-play goal 3:02 after the opening faceoff. Boldy carried the puck toward the net, evaded a defender and lifted a shot past Pickard.

Boldy assisted on the next score, which also came on the power play, to give the Wild a 2-0 lead with 3:49 left in the first period. He dished a pass across the crease to Rossi for the goal.

The Oilers responded 21 seconds later to pull within 2-1. Hyman scored on his backhand.

McDavid pulled Edmonton even at 2-2 on a power-play goal with 1:32 to go in the first period. He zipped a wrist shot from the right circle.

Hartman gave Minnesota a 3-2 lead after he chased down a loose puck and punched it in with 15:51 left in the second period.

Nugent-Hopkins evened the score at 3-all with 5:45 remaining in the second period. He scored off a deflection.

--Field Level Media