June 4, 2025 by Eric Friesen

The Lone Star State has been the site of some of the most memorable moments in Connor McDavid’s illustrious 10-year NHL career.

At the top of the list would be his incredible performance on Thursday night, as McDavid tallied a goal and an assist, including the series-winning marker, to lead the Edmonton to a 6-3 road triumph in Game 5 of the 2025 Western Conference Final. With the victory, the Oilers captured their NHL-best ninth Clarence S. Campbell Bowl.

The Oilers became the first Canadian-based team to advance to the Stanley Cup Final in consecutive years since they did it in 1987 and 1988. Additionally, Edmonton become the first team to win consecutive Clarence S. Campbell Bowls since the Detroit Red Wings in 2008 and 2009.

Here are McDavid’s most memorable games played in the American Airlines Center:

First NHL Goal

McDavid arrived in the NHL in the fall of 2015 with more hype than any prospect than Sidney Crosby a decade earlier. After being held off the scoresheet in his first two games, the 18-year-old wunderkind realized a dream of every young hockey player growing up in his third contest – scoring his first NHL goal.

Trailing 2-1 in the second period, Andrej Sekera settled a clearing attempt from former Oiler Ales Hemsky, before releasing a slap shot that was deflected home by McDavid as he drifted through the slot area. While it wasn’t the typical dazzling end-to-end goal that McDavid has scored countless times over the past decade, it’s one tally he will surely always cherish.

The Oilers ultimately dropped a 4-2 decision to the Stars that night, but that first goal and point in the league for McDavid kick started one of the most brilliant offensive careers in the history of the game. Since that game in Dallas on October 13, 2015, no player has put up more points than McDavid.

McDavid also followed in path of generational talents like Wayne Gretzky and Crosby before him, who each scored their first NHL goals in their third games in the league as well.

First NHL Hat Trick

After going 10 straight games without a goal, McDavid looked to get back on track offensively against the Stars on November 19, 2016. Less than three minutes into the opening frame, McDavid faked a shot from the left circle before sliding a pass through the crease that was redirected past Kari Lehtonen by future teammate John Klingberg to give the Oilers an early 1-0 lead.

With the Oilers in front 3-0 in the second period, McDavid pounced on a loose puck near the side of the net and deposited it for his second tally of the night. After the Stars cut the deficit to two, McDavid picked up the rebound off a Jesse Puljujarvi slap shot and elevated the puck over a sprawling Antti Niemi to complete the hat trick and secure a 5-2 victory.

It was the first of his 13 career hat tricks across the regular season and playoffs. When it comes to reaching a milestone, or breaking out of a slump, McDavid often does so in in emphatic fashion, and this a great example of that early in his brilliant career.

With his team mired in a five-game losing skid as well as an extended goalless drought of his own, the 19-year-old captain potted three goals to lead the Oilers to a much-needed road win. The hat trick also moved McDavid into the league lead in points, where he remained for the rest of the 2016-17 season, en route to capturing his first Art Ross Trophy.

Double Overtime Winner

In the 2024 Western Conference Final, the Oilers faced the Stars in the playoffs for the first time in 21 years and seventh time overall since the Minnesota North Stars relocated to Texas in 1993. Once a fierce rivalry in the late 1990s and early 2000s, had largely gone dormant over the previous two decades, but quickly intensified with a trip to the Stanley Cup Final on the line.

Already leading 1-0 in Game 1, McDavid registered his league-leading 20th assist of the playoffs on Zach Hyman’s career-best 12th goal of the playoffs, to make it 2-0 for the Oilers in the second period. With the helper, McDavid joined Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Doug Gilmour and Nikita Kucherov as the only players in NHL history to record multiple 20-assist playoff years. Additionally, McDavid joined Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Gilmour as the only players in NHL history to record 120 assists in a combined regular season and playoffs.

However, the Oilers were unable to hold the lead, as Tyler Seguin buried a pair of goals to send the game to overtime. Then, just 17 seconds into the first overtime, McDavid was called for a double-minor high-sticking penalty on Matt Duchene that the Oilers managed to kill off.

Later in the first overtime, McDavid was denied on a glorious chance all alone at the top of the crease, when Stars’ goalie Jake Oettinger reached out his paddle to rob him of a sure goal. Fortunately for McDavid, the Stars made the mistake of leaving him alone in the slot in the second overtime frame, and this time, he didn’t miss.

McDavid tallied the game-winning goal just 32 seconds into double overtime to lift the Oilers to a 3-2 win over the Stars and took a 1-0 series lead for the first time since the 2017 Western Conference Second Round against the Anaheim Ducks. Just like his first NHL goal nine in that building years earlier, McDavid scored on a redirection, as Evan Bouchard smartly located him unchecked in the slot.

Though it won’t end up on his career highlight reel, it was undoubtedly one of the most important goals of his career.