NHL: Connor McDavid’s 35th goal in a 6-2 win for the Oilers

Thanks again to the exploits of Conor McDavid in particular, the Edmonton Oilers beat the Anaheim Ducks, 6-2, on Wednesday night. Edmonton outscored the Ducks 53-23.

Thanks to a goal and an assist, McDavid became the first NHL player to reach the 35-goal mark this season and is just one point away from the 80-point mark.

McDavid is just the fourth player in Oilers history to reach 35 goals in a season in 43 or fewer games. So he joins Wayne Gretzky, who has achieved the feat on five occasions, Gary Currie who has done it twice and Glenn Anderson who has done it once in 1985-86.

Forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins took advantage of the victory to reach 50 points of the season, scoring one goal and one assist. Clem Kostin played a good game with two goals.

Already at 77 points before the start of the evening, McDavid quickly showed he had no intention of slowing down. After just over three minutes of play, he was partnered in Dylan Holloway’s third goal of the season thanks to a brilliant pass without looking.

McDavid’s superiority clearly inspired his teammates after just 74 seconds, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins doubled Edmonton’s lead with a shot from the circles. And he took advantage of that network to reach 20 goals for the fifth time in his career.

Despite their poor 30th place in the NHL standings, the Ducks provided the answer midway through the period. Sam Carrick completed a superb pass from Quebec’s Maxime Cometois in front of the net to reduce the deficit to one goal. Komtoua finished the game with two assists.

However, McDavid showed he was ruthless less than two minutes later. In a brilliant one-on-one sequence, McDavid executed a spinorama ball past a helpless Trevor Zegras, before scoring his 35th goal of the season, courtesy of a perfect backhand volley.

Then late in the period, Kostin took advantage of a duck spin to launch a low shot that beat John Gibson, making it 4-1.

Then Kostin returned to the charge midway through the middle period. He finalized a great one-man play from Matthias Janmark to increase the Oilers’ lead to four goals.

Before the end of the period, Leon Draistel wanted to add his personal touch with an impressive goal. Placing him in front of the goal, Draistel redirected a pass from Yvan Bouchard between his legs for his 23rd goal of the season.

Simon Benoit completed the scoring in the third period for the loss.

26-year-old Laval resident Vincent Descharne made his NHL debut with the Oilers. Edmonton drafted him in the seventh round in seven years.

Gibson made 31 saves on 37 shots taken in camp for the Ducks, before being replaced by Anthony Stollars, who was perfect against the 16 earned shots. At the other end of the rink, Jack Campbell made 21 saves in the win.

The Oilers, snapping a two-game losing streak, met the San Jose Sharks on Friday night. The ducks will face the demons.

Byfield contributes to the successes

Quinton Byfield scored his first goal of the season as the Los Angeles Kings defeated the San Jose Sharks 4-3.

Byfield also had an assist, giving him at least two points in a game for the third time in his career.

In addition to Byfield, the scorers in the win were Adrian Kempe, Gabriel Vilardi, and Drew Doughty. Kempe opened the scoring with a lone goal in the first period, as Velarde and Dotti scored with 53 seconds to spare to give the Kings a two-goal lead going into the third period.

Thomas Hertel made it 4-3 with his 14th goal of the season late in the game, but the Sharks were unable to complete the comeback. Nick Bonino and Timo Meyer also hit the mark at Camp Sharks.

Against the Kings Cage, Pheonix Copley did well with a career high 27 saves. At the other end of the ice, James Reimer conceded four goals on 37 shots.

The Kings have won their last three games. They take on the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night.