EDMONTON, AB - "I think anybody can see blood, but he's one of the special ones that can smell it."
Those were the words of Head Coach Jay Woodcroft about the play of his captain Connor McDavid last night, who put a stamp on his sublime early season performance with a breathtaking overtime winner to knock off the Western Conference leading Golden Knights on Saturday.
The goal came well over a minute into the opening shift of 3-on-3 OT, a shift too long for most coaches, but Woodcroft said prior to the game that you make exceptions for the player that he, and most others, considers the best hockey player in the world.
"Do you make allowances for his talent?" Woodcroft mused. "Of course. There's a difference between sameness and fairness."
The reason why was on full display last night -- as McDavid collected the puck, knocked away the stick of star defender Alex Pietrangelo, accelerated in the way only he can, and roofed the game-winning goal over the shoulder of Adin Hill with a quick flick of his wrists.
POST-GAME: McDavid's OT magic highlights his remarkable start
"I think anybody can see blood, but he's one of the special ones that can smell it." - Jay Woodcroft on the Oilers Captain
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