McDavid 4th player in NHL history with 100 assists

Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid notched his 100th assist this season against the San Jose Sharks on Monday night, becoming just the fourth player in NHL history to hit triple digits for helpers.

McDavid returned to the Edmonton lineup after missing three games because of a lower-body injury, entering the home game against San Jose with 99 assists in 74 games. He picked up the primary assist on Zach Hyman’s second-period goal, the winger’s 54th goal of the season.

Hockey Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Bobby Orr are the only other NHL players to eclipse 100 assists in a season.

“It means a lot. Those three are obviously three of the greatest players to ever play. To share a little something with them, it means a lot to me,” McDavid said. “It has been a different type of year, but everybody stuck with it, and we’ve put ourselves in a good spot heading in to when it matters most.”

Orr did it once, becoming the first NHL player to achieve the feat in 1970-71. Lemieux also hit the mark once, in 1988-89. Gretzky topped 100 assists in a season 11 times and is the all-time NHL leader in career assists with 1,963. Gretzky was the last player before McDavid to have 100 assists, in the 1990-91 season.

McDavid’s previous career high in assists was 89 last season.

The NHL could end up with two players breaking the 100-assist mark in the same season after going 32 seasons without one. Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov has 99 assists in 80 games. The Lightning finish their season Wednesday night at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Oilers defeated the Sharks 9-2, keeping their hopes of a Pacific Division title alive. McDavid scored his 32nd goal of the season in the win.