McDavid scores 500th NHL point with assist for Oilers, equals Crosby

EDMONTON-- Connor McDavid scored his 500th NHL point with an assist for the Edmonton Oilers against the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday.

"It's a little milestone, I guess, a little thing along the way here which is nice," McDavid said after he had two assists in a 3-2 win at Rogers Place. "To see and feel some of the reaction from my teammates and friends and family and stuff like that, it's always special, so I really appreciate the support."
The center reached 500 points in his 369th NHL game, the same number it took Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby to get to the milestone, which is eighth-fastest in history.
"It's pretty funny to think about," McDavid said. "Anytime you can be in the same breath as a guy like that, it's pretty special. So, yeah, I mean it's funny how it works out sometimes."
McDavid had an assist on a goal by Jesse Puljujarvi 3:45 into the first period, and assisted on Leon Draisaitl's power-play goal at 16:45 of the second period for his 501st point.
"It's incredible," Draisaitl said. "He's done it all his career. He's going to continue doing it. I think we talk enough about his on-ice performances and the way he plays, but I think what we're all most impressed by is the way he handles himself off the ice. He's such a humble kid, just someone you can learn a lot from. We're very fortunate, very lucky to have a guy like that as our leader."
McDavid is the 18th NHL player to score 500 points in fewer than 400 games. Wayne Gretzky is fastest, reaching 500 points in 234 games, and Mario Lemieux is second at 287 games.
Former Oilers forward Jari Kurri is sixth at 356 games, behind Peter Stastny (322), Mike Bossy (349) and Eric Lindros (352). Bryan Trottier is seventh at 362 games.
McDavid at 24 years old is the 21st NHL player, and third active, with Crosby and Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin, to score 500 points prior to his 25th birthday. (Ovechkin scored 500 points in 373 games.)
"What it says to me is there's been quite a few players that get to 500, but to do it as fast as he's done it and in the company that he's done it with is pretty remarkable," Edmonton coach Dave Tippett said. "It just shows what a talent he is, and I know he doesn't look at those accomplishments or look at milestones like that very much, but I think probably later on in life he'll look back and be very proud of some of those milestones he's put forth. He still wants the team milestone ahead of the individual milestones and that's what he's striving for."
McDavid leads the NHL with 32 points (nine goals, 23 assists) in 18 games this season. He has scored at least 100 points in three of the past four seasons, with 97 points (34 goals, 63 assists) in 64 games last season before play was paused due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.
"It's awesome for him, to do it in that amount of games, and doing it the same as Sid is pretty special, obviously, so definitely a big congrats to him," Winnipeg forward Mark Scheifele said. "I wish it would have come in a loss, but I'm sure it's a special moment, I'm sure something he's very happy about. It's a special player, achieving something very special."
Through 369 games, McDavid has scored 501 points (171 goals, 330 assists), 133 even-strength goals, 342 even-strength points, 35 power-play goals, three shorthanded goals, eight overtime goals, 36 game-winning goals, and has a 14.8 percent shooting percentage.
Through Crosby's first 369 games, he scored 501 points (181 goals, 320 assists), 124 even-strength goals, 286 even-strength points, 55 power-play goals, two shorthanded goals, five overtime goals, 22 game-winning goals, and had a 14.7 percent shooting percentage. He scored his 500th point on April 8, 2010.
McDavid scored his first 100 points in 92 games, went from 100 to 200 points in 82 games, went from 200 to 300 in 68 games, went from 300 to 400 in 67 games, and went from 400 to 500 points in 64 games.
"I think I definitely get more and more comfortable as the years go by, more and more comfortable in my own skin and figuring the game out," said McDavid, who is in his sixth NHL season. "I think maybe the game is trending a little more offensive than when I first entered the League, so I think that maybe plays a bit of a role in it. Definitely just getting more and more comfortable as the years go by."
Crosby has scored 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 14 games this season. The 33-year-old has scored 1,275 points (467 goals, 808 assists) in 998 games and won the Stanley Cup three times (2009, 2016, 2017).
"He's been so successful in this league and has done everything that I want to do," McDavid said this week. "He's a great guy to follow. He's kind of done everything he's set his mind to. He wanted to get better in face-offs and he's done that, he wanted to score more goals and he did that. I think there is definitely lots of lessons in his game because his game has changed over the years and he does whatever he can to be successful."
NHL.com independent correspondent Derek Van Diest contributed to this report