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McDavid low-key after breaking Gretzky's assists record: 'Not the focus'

Dave Sandford / National Hockey League / Getty

Unsurprisingly, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid was as low-key as ever after breaking Wayne Gretzky's record for the most assists in a single postseason.

"Yeah, I guess it is (special)," he said with a chuckle after the Oilers' 8-1 mauling of the Florida Panthers on Saturday. "Obviously not the focus with where we're at, but (it's) not lost on me what he means to the game."

McDavid recorded his 32nd assist of these playoffs on Dylan Holloway's goal late in the contest to surpass the Great One.

Here's how the all-time list stands with McDavid in the No. 1 spot:

Rank Player Assists GP Year
1 Connor McDavid 32 22 2024
2 Wayne Gretzky 31 19 1988
3 Wayne Gretzky 30 18 1985
4 Wayne Gretzky 29 21 1987
5 Mario Lemieux 28 23 1991
6 Nikita Kucherov 27 25 2020

McDavid's teammates had a lot more to say about his record-breaking night.

"Connor probably won't admit it, but you've gotta feel proud about that," Connor Brown said. "It's not by accident. ... He works harder than anyone I've ever met. ... He's our best player."

Holloway was all smiles while calling McDavid's feat "unbelievable."

"Most of Gretzky's records are considered almost untouchable, and (McDavid), he's right there," he said. "It's pretty special to watch. He leads our team every day, on the ice, off the ice. ... Couldn't be happier for him."

McDavid picked a great time to erupt, as his memorable assist wrapped up a dominant four-point outing that helped Edmonton avoid being swept out of the Stanley Cup Final.

Zach Hyman has had a front-row seat to the McDavid show for the past three years, so the veteran didn't seem too surprised by the superstar's clutch performance.

"I think any time our team's back is against the wall, he's the first guy to push back," he said. "For us to come back, he's gotta be the best, and he seems to always be the best when we're in these situations."

Mattias Janmark, meanwhile, had an almost blasé attitude toward McDavid's excellence.

"I don't know if I thought he was that special tonight," the forward said, per Sportsnet. "Like, you see it every day, and you don't keep track of his points because it gets up there pretty quick. ... Every day you kind of get mesmerized by it."

McDavid is up to 38 points this spring, tying Gretzky's 1983 postseason for the fifth-most all time in a single playoffs:

Rank Player Points GP Year
1 Wayne Gretzky 47 18 1985
2 Mario Lemieux 44 23 1991
3 Wayne Gretzky 43 19 1988
4 Wayne Gretzky 40 24 1993
T-5 Connor McDavid 38 22 2024
T-5 Wayne Gretzky 38 16 1983
7 Paul Coffey 37 18 1985

Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.

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