I'll admit it: At first glance, I thought Tristan Jarry got caught cheating toward a centering pass.
Upon further review, it was simply the most gifted player in the world doing, well, gifted things.
That, of course, would be Connor McDavid, who tied the game at 1-1 in the first period before the Oilers went on to demolish the Penguins, 7-2, here at PPG Paints Arena Thursday.
The goal was McDavid's first of two on the evening, and it was simply ridiculous:
Really, how do you stop that? If Jarry stands tall, Derek Ryan's right out front for a tap-in.
You don't need me to tell you how quick and shifty McDavid is, but this was a prime example of why attacking downhill can be so effective. The route he took was very similar to the route Jared McCann used to take on the Penguins' power play. He'd start wide, skating toward the blue line before cutting back hard the other way with momentum, typically receiving a pass in the process.
From there, options are abundant and decisions can be made based on what the penalty-kill coverage is showing. A shot from the top of the circle or cross-ice pass is typically the end result in such situations, but in this case, McDavid allowed his momentum to carry him wide, right around Jeff Petry, as he threatened a pass to the middle.
By that point, it appeared as if he was going to wheel around the net and out the other side, but an incredible display of touch and finesse allowed him to roof a shot above Jarry. It effectively marked the end of anything the Penguins might've had going.
"I heard someone say it's like living at the foot of Everest, you almost get numb to what you're seeing every day," Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft said of McDavid. "I think it's important that everybody takes a step back and understands that we're seeing someone at the top of their craft in the prime of their career putting out there what he's putting out."
