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Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl became the fourth-fastest active player in NHL history to score 1,000 career points in the first period of a 6-4 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Draisaitl had a secondary assist on Zach Hyman's power-play goal at 11:38 of the first period. He passed the ball to Connor McDavid, who passed it to Hyman, making a one-timer past Penguins goalie Stuart Skinner.
“It was hard work and a lot of people who helped us along the way,” Draisaitl said.
“These achievements are always player-centric, but there are so many people who play a big role in it.”
Skinner was Draisaitl's teammate before Edmonton traded him to Pittsburgh for Tristan Jarry on Friday.
“Any time someone scores 1,000 points you should congratulate them, but I'd rather not have it on my conscience,” Skinner said. “It’s a little bittersweet.
“I’ve been his teammate for a long time and obviously he’s a great player and he makes it every night. Congratulations to him.”
Stuart Skinner, the starting goaltender of the Edmonton Oilers, was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The deal will see former Edmonton Oil Kings goaltender Tristan Jarry return to Alberta's capital. Travis McEwan looks at how Skinner will be missed in society.
After Hyman's goal, the Oilers bench emptied and Draisaitl congratulated Draisaitl on the milestone on the corner.
Draisaitl scored his 1,001st point 14 seconds after McDavid's goal. He finished with four assists and now has 416 goals and 587 assists in 824 games. Draisaitl and McDavid recorded their 136th career assist, passing Paul Coffey and Wayne Gretzky for the fourth-most assists among a pair of teammates in NHL history.
“He’s a special player,” McDavid said. “I can't say enough good things. He does this every year on both sides of the rink.
“It’s no surprise to him that he achieved this achievement and achieved it so quickly because he has so many great years ahead of him.”
Selected third overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Draisaitl became the 103rd player in league history, the first German-born player and fifth in franchise history to score 1,000 points.
Draisaitl, a four-time 50-goal scorer who helped Edmonton reach the Stanley Cup final the previous two seasons, is the fifth-fastest player born outside of North America to reach that milestone.
“It feels like growing up in Germany has come a long way,” Draisaitl said. “Of course, it was just a dream. Just super grateful, super grateful and, of course, a little proud.”
