Excellent offensive performances by the Avalanche’s Rene Bourque and Nathan MacKinnon on Wednesday were negated by burgeoning superstar Connor McDavid, Edmonton’s 19-year-old captain and NHL scoring leader.
In his first NHL appearance in Denver, McDavid had a hand in three third-period goals in carrying the Oilers to a 6-3 victory before the shocked holiday crowd at the Pepsi Center.
The Avs took a 3-2 lead into the third period but McDavid assisted on the game-tying goal, scored the game-winner and assisted on the insurance goal for the visitors — all within the first 7:30 of the frame.