Connor McDavid nets hat trick on 5-point night as Oilers surge into first place in Pacific Division

The best player in the league takes over the game to lead Edmonton to a crucial victory.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 8:23am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting the intense action of a hockey game, with Connor McDavid's explosive movements and scoring plays at the center of the abstract, geometric composition.A cubist interpretation of Connor McDavid's dominant performance, as the Oilers' superstar forward leads his team to a crucial division-clinching victory.San Jose Today

Connor McDavid scored three goals and added two assists to lead the Edmonton Oilers to a 5-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks. The win moved the Oilers into sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division. McDavid was dominant from the start, scoring a power-play goal in the first period and then adding two more goals and an assist in the second period to put the game away. The Oilers have gone 6-1-1 over the past eight games to surge into first place, and with high-scoring teammate Leon Draisaitl possibly returning from injury for the playoffs, Edmonton is trying to get back into top form in time to make another deep postseason run.

Why it matters

Connor McDavid's performance was crucial in helping the Oilers regain the top spot in the Pacific Division. As one of the league's elite players, McDavid's ability to take over a game and lead his team to victory is a major factor in Edmonton's playoff aspirations. The Oilers are looking to build momentum heading into the postseason after an up-and-down regular season, and McDavid's dominance could be the spark they need to make another deep playoff run.

The details

McDavid scored three goals, including a power-play tally in the first period, and added two assists to lead the Oilers to victory. He got the best of his matchup against fellow Hart Trophy contender Macklin Celebrini, who scored the Sharks' first goal on the power play. But McDavid answered less than two minutes later and the Sharks couldn't slow him down the rest of the night. McDavid's 133 points this season are six more than Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov in the race for the Art Ross Trophy, and he needs three goals in the final three games for his second career 50-goal season.

  • McDavid scored a power-play goal in the first period.
  • McDavid assisted on a power-play goal by Vasily Podkolzin late in the first period.
  • McDavid added two more goals and an assist on his first seven shifts of the second period to put the game away.

The players

Connor McDavid

The captain of the Edmonton Oilers and one of the best players in the NHL. He scored three goals and added two assists to lead the Oilers to victory and move them into first place in the Pacific Division.

Macklin Celebrini

A forward for the San Jose Sharks and a fellow Hart Trophy contender with McDavid. He scored the Sharks' first goal on the power play but was unable to slow down McDavid for the rest of the game.

Vasily Podkolzin

An Oilers forward who scored a power-play goal in the first period, assisted by McDavid.

Evan Bouchard

An Oilers defenseman who said the strategy for his teammates is simple when McDavid is playing at such a high level: 'Get him the puck.'

Kris Knoblauch

The head coach of the Edmonton Oilers, who praised McDavid's performance, saying 'I've seen him play a lot of good games and that was one of his best.'

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What they’re saying

“He knows our team needed a win. We're playing a little short-handed and he's going to be the guy. Tonight every shift he was really dialed in and played extremely well. I've seen him play a lot of good games and that was one of his best.”

— Kris Knoblauch, Head Coach, Edmonton Oilers

“Get him the puck. When you see him playing the way he was tonight, and honestly, most of the season, you want to get him the puck. He makes things happen when not many other people can.”

— Evan Bouchard, Defenseman, Edmonton Oilers

“He's the best player in the league and he's also the fastest so if you don't really slow him down or get in his way he's just going to skate by you. It's simple as that. You've seen it his whole career. I loved watching it when I was a fan but it's super frustrating when you play against it.”

— Macklin Celebrini, Forward, San Jose Sharks

What’s next

The Oilers have three games remaining in the regular season as they look to clinch a playoff spot and secure the Pacific Division title. With Leon Draisaitl potentially returning from injury, Edmonton is hoping to build momentum heading into the postseason and make another deep run after back-to-back trips to the Stanley Cup Final.

The takeaway

Connor McDavid's dominant performance against the Sharks showcased why he is considered the best player in the NHL. His ability to take over a game and lead his team to victory is crucial for the Oilers as they look to make a deep playoff run. With McDavid leading the way and the potential return of Draisaitl, Edmonton is positioning itself as a formidable contender in the Western Conference.