Connor McDavid Sets an NHL Record With a 13-Game Assist Streak as Tristan Jarry Blanks the Flames and Devin Cooley Gets Hurt

Connor McDavid set an NHL record on Wednesday night, and the Battle of Alberta delivered fantasy news on both sides. McDavid's two assists in Edmonton's 4-0 win over Calgary extended his season-opening assist streak to 13 games, breaking the 12-game mark he had shared with Wayne Gretzky (1982-83), Ken Linseman (1985-86) and Sebastian Aho (2018-19). Tristan Jarry made 24 saves for the shutout, and the Oilers improved to 9-2-2.

The bigger fantasy story may be in Calgary's crease. Flames goaltender Devin Cooley left after the first period with a lower-body injury following a collision with Oilers forward Colton Dach, and Dustin Wolf finished the game. With Cooley's status unclear, the Flames' goalie job is back in flux.

The game

Kasperi Kapanen scored on the power play, and Mathieu Joseph, Mattias Ekholm and Alex Formenton also scored for Edmonton. The win snapped a two-game losing skid for the Oilers and ended Calgary's four-game winning streak. The Flames fell to 5-7-0.

Edmonton played without Zach Hyman, who was placed on injured reserve before the game with a neck injury.

McDavid's record and his fantasy value

McDavid has recorded at least one assist in every game this season. The streak is a reflection of how consistently he drives play: even in games where he does not score, he is involved in nearly every high-danger chance on his line. For fantasy managers, McDavid remains the top player in the sport, and this record changes nothing except to confirm it.

The more relevant question is how the Oilers' lines look without Hyman. Hyman has been one of McDavid's most frequent linemates over the years, and his absence opens a top-six and power-play opportunity for another winger. Kapanen's power-play goal on Wednesday makes him a name to watch as Babcock fills that spot.

Zach Hyman's injury

Hyman was hurt Monday against Detroit when Red Wings defenseman Andreas Englund drove him into the boards and his head hit the glass. The Oilers placed him on IR on Wednesday with what head coach Mike Babcock called a stiff neck, and Babcock said the news was much better than expected. Early speculation about a concussion did not hold up.

Because of the IR placement, Hyman must miss a minimum stretch of games, and one report has him eligible to return Nov. 2. This is his second IR stint of the season after he missed six games following an injury earlier in October. The IR move also opened a roster spot for Jason Dickinson, who returned from injury.

For fantasy, Hyman is a hold. A short absence for a stiff neck should not cost managers much, and his role alongside McDavid and Leon Draisaitl makes him valuable as soon as he returns.

Jarry's shutout

Tristan Jarry's 24-save shutout was exactly what Edmonton needed. Edmonton has been searching for consistent goaltending, and a clean sheet against a Calgary team that had won four straight is a meaningful data point. Jarry is a streaming option whenever Edmonton faces a weaker offense, and the Oilers' scoring gives any starting goalie a high win probability.

The Flames' crease: Cooley hurt, Wolf back in

Cooley was injured late in the first period when Dach drove to the net and collided with him. Dach received a two-minute goaltender interference penalty, and Cooley appeared to hurt his left leg. Calgary announced a lower-body injury and did not provide a timeline after the game.

That matters because Cooley had won the starting job. He had kept Wolf on the bench during Calgary's winning streak, and the Flames were riding him through the stretch. Wolf allowed three goals on 23 shots in relief. If Cooley misses time, Wolf becomes the starter again, and his fantasy value rebounds immediately.

Fantasy action: If Wolf is on your waiver wire, pick him up now. Even a short Cooley absence gives Wolf several starts, and he has been a reliable fantasy goalie in past seasons. Cooley managers should hold until the Flames give an update.

Betting angle

Calgary's goalie situation will drive its next few lines. The Flames host Seattle on Friday, and the market will price that game based on who starts. Confirm starters through Daily Faceoff or the team's morning skate updates before betting.

For Edmonton, the Oilers visit the New York Islanders on Saturday. A McDavid assist prop will continue to draw attention, and the streak itself has value as a narrative, but the price on those props is likely to rise. The better angle may be Oilers team totals against weaker defenses.

The Battle of Alberta standings picture

The result also tightened the early Pacific Division picture. Edmonton has recovered from an uneven start to sit near the top of the division, while Calgary's four-game winning streak had pulled the Flames back into the wild-card conversation. Wednesday's shutout reversed some of that momentum, and a Cooley injury could make the next stretch harder for Calgary.

The Verdexed angle

Verdexed's NHL model weights confirmed starting goalies heavily, so its view of Calgary's next game will update once the Flames name a starter. For the model's daily picks, see the NHL predictions page.

What's next

Watch Calgary's Thursday update on Cooley. If he is placed on IR, Wolf will start Friday against Seattle and likely beyond. For Edmonton, Hyman's earliest return is in the next few days, and McDavid will try to extend his record to 14 games in New York on Saturday.