McDavid closes in on 40 assists as Oilers host Rangers

Connor McDavid enters Monday’s game against the New York Rangers with 37 assists in 18 games. The Edmonton Oilers captain can reach 40 assists in fewer games than Wayne Gretzky, who needed 22 in 1984–85, according to NHL.com.

McDavid also has 10 goals. With three more points against New York, he would join Gretzky and Mario Lemieux as the only NHL players to reach 50 points within the first 19 games of a season. He has at least one point in each game so far.

New York has won three straight. Joonas Korpisalo made 25 saves in his Rangers debut Saturday, a 4–3 win over the Seattle Kraken. Edmonton also won Saturday, beating Vancouver 4–2 after McDavid set up three goals.

The Oilers won the first meeting 4–1 at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 1. The rematch starts at 6 p.m. in Edmonton (8 p.m. ET) at Rogers Place.