Hot Links: Tuesday, January 7

Morning, folks!

Huge win last night. Massive even.

Years from now, you’ll remember the night Connor McDavid took Morgan Reilly’s soul on live TV. You’ll talk about it with your children. You’ll detail how the spaghetti you were eating tasted before you spit it onto your carpet and whooped around your living room like you had a serious cough from decades past. You’ll compare future lovers, unfairly, to the feelings McDavid gave you after committing an actual murder on the ice. You’ll spend decades in therapy trying to come to terms with your arousal after such visciousness. That was something else. That was a generational goal, one that one man and one man alone can make happen in the league today. Nobody does it like McDavid. He’s so unique, it’s entirely possible nobody ever will, too. What a player. What a moment.

The rest of the game was good, too, but you’ve already read the recap for that. That goal is worth getting tattooed. On your neck. Exactly where your shirts stop, so that people see it no matter where you put it.

Connor McDavid.

H/T to Mike Smith last night, if only because he made enough big saves against a talented group of forwards to give the Oilers a chance to keep their lead. He still let in four, but never enough to let Toronto tie it. He was sub-900 still, but he made a couple of big saves — especially in the first — to keep the Oilers ahead.

Edmonton moves to 3-0-1 in their last four, coinciding with the recall of Kailer Yamamoto and his part in legitimizing the new second line with Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. If this keeps up, it’s huge.

The deadline is weeks away now, so what are Ken Holland’s options?

Bakersfield seems to have stabilized, in large part due to Stuart Skinner’s improved play.

From Us

Connor McDavid Leads Oilers to 6-4 Win Over Toronto (Copper and Blue)

Boosting the powerplay (Copper and Blue)

Raphael Lavoie Traded in the Q (Copper and Blue)

From Elsewhere

‘That Was Connor Being Connor.’ McDavid Scores A Goal For The Ages (THN)

Have The Edmonton Oilers Found A Second Line? (Oilers Rig)

Bakersfield Condors Taking Flight Behind Skinner And Bouchard (Sun)

McDavid Shines Against Maple Leafs And Scores First Goal In Hometown (Sportsnet)

McDavid’s Gorgeous 1st Hometown Goal Helps Oilers Seal Win In Toronto (CBC)

McDavid’s Goal For The Ages Highlights Critical Win For Oilers (Sportsnet)

For Money

LeBrun: Q&A With GM Ken Holland On Oilers’ Deadline Plans And Why The Regular Season Is Important, Until It Isn’t (Athletic)

Lowetide: Ken Holland’s Trade Deadline Options For The Oilers (Athletic)

‘That’s The Nicest Goal I’ve Ever Seen’: Connor McDavid’s Teammates Amazed By His Latest Effort (Athletic)