You hate to focus on him every night. But he almost forces you to. Connor McDavid is simply the mostly exciting player in the NHL, and right now hes on an amazing roll.

For 58 minutes it was a story in search of a hero. A movie without a plot. Then as time ran out on the clock, Connor McDavid swooped in on goal and banked the puck in off the goalies mask. Suddenly the score was tied and the game was truly on.

When Milan Lucic finally scored on Monday to end a 29-game drought, the same people who have discussed him endlessly and derided him mercilessly for weeks rose and cheered him to the Rogers Place rafters.

A defensive zone meltdown leads to an early first goal. The worst home-ice penalty kill in league history surrenders the second goal. A nothing shot from the high slot eludes the goalie, and suddenly the game looks out of reach.

Ethan Bear got a rough welcome to the big leagues Thursday night. But if the 20 year old exhibited a bit of indecision on the ice, there was no such thing in the locker room later, where he showed the eagerness one would expect and a level of maturity one might not.

What if, heaven forbid, McDavid and Draisaitl spend the next few years together on the Oilers top line? Would that be so bad? Because lets face it, they're pretty amazing when theyre on the ice together.

Cam Talbot lay on his belly for several seconds, facing his own net.