McDavid relieved to score in OT: Would've had 'tough time sleeping'

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid may have saved the day with a double-overtime winner to kick off the Western Conference Final, but that isn't stopping him from wishing that he scored a little earlier.

The superstar was robbed of a sure goal by Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger and rearguard Chris Tanev in the final minutes of the first extra frame.

WHAT A SAVE BY JAKE OETTINGER! 😱 pic.twitter.com/1djsrnsQP5

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 24, 2024

"Apologies to everyone for keeping everyone up a little bit longer," McDavid told NHL on TNT after his Oilers' 3-2 Game 1 victory. "Should have gone in, should have gone in, has to go in. He's a good goalie and he scrambles to make that play, but I mean, that has to go in."

He added: "Glad that we were able to get the win. Otherwise I would have had a tough time sleeping, for sure."

The Oilers held a 2-0 lead before the midway mark of the second period, but a pair of goals by Stars veteran Tyler Seguin ended up extending the action.

Overtime didn't get off to the best start for McDavid, who took a double-minor for high-sticking Matt Duchene off the opening draw. McDavid got into it with the officials before making his way to the box.

McDavid gets called for high-sticking to begin overtime. pic.twitter.com/od8kXNYxNi

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 24, 2024

"My thing was, I don't know what I'm supposed to do there," he explained postgame. "I am going forward trying to play the puck, it feels like he's holding my stick. I didn't even really feel the high stick at all, I think maybe his face even comes down on my stick."

Luckily for McDavid, the Oilers managed to kill off his four-minute infraction, but he really didn't enjoy his time watching from the sidelines.

"Long. Really long. Really really long. Miserable," he said. "I hated every second of it, but the guys did an amazing job. Truthfully, the penalty kill has just been amazing. To step in there, four minutes against a good power play, can't give those guys enough credit."

McDavid rewarded his teammates by tipping in a perfect pass by Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard to become the seventh player in franchise history with multiple playoff overtime goals.

Though McDavid said it was "always nice" to score in the extra frame, this one might have meant a little more.

"Guys were giving him a little heat for not ending it earlier, so he was happy, obviously," Zach Hyman told NHL Network's Jackie Redmond. "Just a huge goal, and who better to do it than him?"

"Obviously Connor felt like he had to get it back, so he got it back," he added.

Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.

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