McDavid one point from 100 in 53 games this season for Oilers

EDMONTON -- Connor McDavid needs one point to reach 100 this season after the Edmonton Oilers center scored in the first period and had two assists in the second period against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday (NHLN, CBS, SN, TVAS, NHL.TV).

"The fact that we're having this conversation of a guy having the opportunity to get 100 points in that [few] games (53), it's incredible that we're at this point," Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse said Saturday. "It's been a lot of fun to watch, as a teammate of his it's obviously very special, but it goes to show the work that he puts in each and every year.
"He comes in and seems to be a [completely] different animal and just adds on top of the game he's already developed. It's awesome to see that he's at this point, and I know he's definitely capable of it."
McDavid leads the NHL with 99 points (32 goals, 67 assists) in 52 games.
"Unbelievable, he's been a horse for us for sure and obviously a big reason why we've had success this season," Oilers goalie Mike Smith said. "Obviously a special talent that continues to improve, which is mind-blowing in itself. You see a kid that's been in the League for five or six years now, I'm not sure of the number (six seasons), and you see how much he's improved in that span of time.
"As an 18-year-old he came in and was doing some special things, and to continue to improve on it is a huge credit to Connor as a player and as a person and the drive that he has to be an impact player every single night on the ice, which is something in itself. It's an incredible feat, and I don't know why he's settling for 100, I think there are higher goals there that he can hit."
Edmonton (32-18-2) clinched a Stanley Cup Playoff berth with a 5-3 win at Vancouver on Monday. The Oilers, who have four games remaining in this 56-game season, are second in the Scotia North Division, 10 points behind the Maple Leafs and seven points ahead of the third-place Winnipeg Jets. The top four teams qualify for the playoffs.
"He's really concentrating on getting his game in order for playoffs, and that's what we've talked to all our players about, continue to raise your level and get ready," Oilers coach Dave Tippett said. "He comes into every game and it's crazy how it goes, he gets so many chances and creates so many chances sometimes those pucks go in the net for either him or who he's setting up, and other times they don't, but he's been on a pretty good run here lately. It's about him making sure his game is in order and getting ready for playoffs."

It took McDavid 66 games to score 100 points during the 2018-19 season (34 goals, 66 assists). He finished that season with his NHL career-high 116 (41 goals, 75 assists) in 78 games played.
It took him 77 games to score 100 in 2017-18 (when he scored 108 in 82 games), and took him 82 games in 2016-17.
"I think we're all rooting for him, it's a pretty cool record to have and it's no surprise that he's been doing it," Oilers defenseman Ethan Bear said Friday. "He's been unbelievable to watch this year, and his work ethic and dedication to the game has been great. I think we're all rooting for him and hope he gets it, and I'm sure he will."
McDavid scored 97 points (34 goals, 63 assists) last season, when he played 64 of Edmonton's 71 games.
The No. 1 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, he has scored 568 points (194 goals, 374 assists) in 404 regular-season games. He has scored at least 30 goals and 93 points in each of his previous five NHL seasons and has been first or second in scoring every season since 2016-17.
"It seems like he's always been a real good goal-scorer to me, but it seems last summer he worked on a lot of parts of his game," Tippett said. "He wanted to become a better shooter, he's taken more shots this year and he looks to beat goalies now, and he's got a really quick release; a deceiving release. There are not a lot of faults in his game, you can find lots of good spots."