TORONTO — Whenever Connor McDavid returns to Toronto, the excitement is palpable.
That was certainly the case on Saturday, as McDavid dazzled with a goal and an assist in the Edmonton Oilers’ 4-3 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 27-year-old continues to shine at Scotiabank Arena, where he now boasts 18 points (four goals, 14 assists) in 11 career games, including eight (two goals, six assists) in his past three visits.
Unfortunately for McDavid and the Oilers, his performance wasn’t enough to secure a win.
The game marked Edmonton’s only regular-season visit to Toronto this year, and McDavid’s friends and family were on hand to cheer him on, just 35 miles from his hometown of Newmarket. McDavid gave the Oilers a 2-1 lead early in the second period with a power-play goal at 1:51, and it seemed like it could be the game-winner.
But a bad bounce derailed Edmonton’s chances.
Late in the third period, with the Oilers still up by a goal, a clearing attempt from defenseman Evan Bouchard deflected off McDavid and landed right on the stick of Toronto’s Matthew Knies, who scored the equalizer at 13:08.
The game turned into a back-and-forth affair, with Toronto’s Bobby McMann and Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl exchanging goals before Mitch Marner’s overtime goal sealed the victory for the Leafs just 40 seconds into the extra frame.
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch summed it up simply: “Unfortunate,” referring to the fluky pass that led to the tying goal.
It capped a whirlwind 48 hours for McDavid and the Oilers. Just two days earlier, McDavid had reached a major milestone, recording his 1,000th career point in Edmonton’s 3-2 overtime win over the Nashville Predators. After the game, the team flew from Edmonton to Toronto, managing to avoid the Taylor Swift crowds that had flooded the city for her six-concert run at Rogers Centre.
“It was a quick turnaround,” McDavid chuckled after Saturday’s morning skate. “We were just trying to get to Toronto early to beat all the Taylor Swift traffic. It’s cool to see the city so excited.”
But even with Swift’s presence dominating the city, McDavid’s return home was equally special.
In fact, the chaos in downtown Toronto on Saturday had fans buzzing for more than just the pop superstar. Fans had already gathered early in the day to see Swift, while others gathered around Scotiabank Arena for the afternoon AHL game between the Belleville Senators and the Toronto Marlies, ahead of the main event. During the Oilers’ morning skate, several Belleville players paused their practice to watch McDavid’s dazzling moves on the ice, frequently exclaiming “Wow!”
It’s clear McDavid’s return home is always a highlight.
“It means more,” McDavid said of playing in front of his family and friends. “Saturday night hockey in front of them—of course it means more.”
The significance of McDavid’s connection to Toronto runs deep. Back in 2015, the young forward shared his dream of playing for the Maple Leafs.
“That would be an absolute dream come true,” he said back then, reflecting on his childhood admiration for the team. “You have to be a Leafs fan if you’re from Toronto. I remember my dad and I always joking about who could guess the score when we’d drive down to the games. I’ll remember that forever.”
Sadly, this game won’t have the same lasting memories for McDavid, as the Oilers’ hopes for a victory slipped away in overtime. But his performance in front of his hometown fans will undoubtedly be remembered.
