Connor McDavid Extends His Season-Opening Point Streak to 14 as Tristan Jarry Posts Back-to-Back Shutouts: The Oilers Fantasy Read

Connor McDavid picked up an assist in the Oilers' 4-0 win over the Islanders at UBS Arena on Saturday, extending his season-opening point streak to 14 games. The assist came on Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' power-play goal at 18:26 of the second period, the second of two goals for Nugent-Hopkins, and it capped a stretch of three Edmonton goals in 9:44. Behind them, Tristan Jarry made 18 saves for his second straight shutout.

For fantasy managers, there are three stories here: McDavid's historic October, Jarry's surge in the Edmonton crease and Nugent-Hopkins' renewed production.

McDavid's October in context

The NHL.com recap reported that McDavid leads the league with 37 points (eight goals, 29 assists); another version of the same recap listed 35 points, so treat the exact total as subject to the official stat update. Either way, he became the first player to record at least 35 points in a single calendar month since Mario Lemieux did it three times during the 1992-93 season. The Oilers also described his run of consecutive games with an assist as a season-opening NHL record.

McDavid is now three games short of the 17-game season-opening point streak he put together to start the 2021-22 season. His assist streak was already record-setting earlier in the week, when he set an NHL mark with a 13-game run.

Tristan Jarry has taken the Edmonton net

Jarry's two consecutive shutouts are the biggest fantasy development of the week in Edmonton. His 25th career shutout tied him with Grant Fuhr and Mike Liut, and according to the NHL recap, he is the first Oilers goalie since Mike Smith in 2021-22 to post back-to-back shutouts. (The Hockey Writers cited a slightly different historical count, but both outlets agree on the Smith comparison.)

Jarry's first shutout came earlier this week against Calgary, in a game where McDavid also set his assist record. Two clean sheets in a row is a strong signal that he is taking control of the starter's job. For fantasy managers, that matters more than any single stat line: the Oilers held the Islanders to 18 shots on Saturday, and a goalie who starts most games behind the league's top scorer is going to rack up wins.

Jarry is a must-start goalie for as long as he holds the crease. If he is available in your league, he should be the first goalie you add.

Nugent-Hopkins and the power play

Nugent-Hopkins opened the scoring at 8:42 of the second period off the rush, set up by Kasperi Kapanen, and then added the power-play goal that extended McDavid's streak. Nugent-Hopkins has been a steady fantasy contributor for years, but his value rises sharply when he is playing on the top power-play unit alongside McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. A two-goal game on the road is a reminder that he is worth a roster spot in 12-team leagues, especially those that count power-play points.

An injury to watch

Oilersnation reported that Edmonton lost forward Isaac Howard to an injury during the game. The team had not given a timeline as of Sunday morning, so treat his status as unknown. Howard was given a chance at a top-six role earlier this season with Matt Savoie injured, and if he misses time, another forward will move up the lineup. That forward is worth watching, because skating on a line with McDavid or Draisaitl can turn a depth player into a fantasy asset overnight.

The Islanders side

The loss snapped the Islanders' two-game winning streak. Ilya Sorokin made 20 saves and was not the problem; the Oilers simply broke through with three goals in under ten minutes in the second period. New York managed just 18 shots, which is the real concern for fantasy managers holding Islanders skaters. Sorokin remains a reliable starter, but the offense in front of him is limiting his win potential.

The betting angle

Edmonton has allowed zero goals in its last two games, and the Oilers' blend of McDavid's playmaking and Jarry's recent form makes them a team the market will price aggressively. The interesting spots will come against teams with strong goaltending, where the Oilers' totals may be set too high after a pair of low-scoring shutouts. McDavid's point props are also worth watching: a 14-game streak means books will set his lines with the streak in mind, and any regression in pricing is unlikely while it continues.

Verdexed's model publishes daily NHL picks on the NHL predictions page and in a daily picks piece on the blog. Check there for the model's view of the Oilers' next game.

What to do in your league

McDavid is the No. 1 fantasy skater in hockey; there is nothing to do but start him. Jarry is a must-start and must-add goalie while he is on this run. Nugent-Hopkins is a solid start in 12-team leagues, particularly in leagues that reward power-play production. And watch Howard's injury status, because the forward who replaces him in the top six could become a quick waiver pickup.