Connor McDavid made a major statement in his first clash with Sidney Crosby, but the reigning Conn Smythe winner and his Pittsburgh Penguins teammates taught McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers a lesson Tuesday night.
McDavid showed off his incredible vision, speed, and strength in the much ballyhooed first-ever meeting between him and Crosby, but his remarkable play-making ability wasn't enough to quell the defending Stanley Cup champions, who showed the Oilers how to properly close out a game.
The 19-year-old dominated early on, setting up all three Oilers goals as Edmonton jumped out to a 3-1 lead. He fed Jordan Eberle for a pair of goals and created Patrick Maroon's marker by burning past Brian Dumoulin and feathering a perfect backhand pass.
McDavid impressed at both ends of the ice, breaking up a Penguins scoring chance before feeding Maroon for the goal that made it 2-1 for the Oilers late in the first period.
Crosby was on the ice for Edmonton's first two goals, but he got the first and last laughs Tuesday night.
The two-time Hart Trophy winner beat McDavid on the opening faceoff and was nearby when Benoit Pouliot's clearing attempt went into the Oilers' net late in the third period, giving Pittsburgh the eventual game-winner with less than two minutes left.
The Oilers' strong start to the season has been impressive, and they now sit at 9-4-1 through 14 games, but Edmonton's inability to hold the lead and Pouliot's decisive gaffe proved they aren't on the Penguins' level just yet.
McDavid has already provided myriad glimpses of his gifts, shown he's capable of consistent offensive production, and proven he's wise beyond his years on the ice, but the Oilers learned as a team Tuesday that they still have work to do before joining the NHL's elite.
No matter how many points he piles up or how quickly his game continues to evolve, he can't do it all by himself. This loss to the Penguins showed the Oilers that despite McDavid's brilliance, they still have plenty of room to grow.
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