Connor McDavid breaks Wayne Gretzky’s record for most assists in a single playoff

EDMONTON — Connor McDavid has passed The Great One.

After recording three assists in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final — an 8-1 win by the Edmonton Oilers — McDavid moved ahead of Wayne Gretzky for most helpers in a single playoff with 32. Gretzky had 31 in 1988, the last time he won the Cup with the Oilers.

McDavid’s record-breaking assist came 14:11 into the third period when he set up sophomore winger Dylan Holloway off the rush for an easy tap-in.

McDavid had two assists in the second period — on Darnell Nurse’s first goal of the playoffs and then provided secondary support on Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ first of the series on an Oilers two-man advantage.

McDavid also scored a goal as part of a four-point night. He upped his league-leading point total to 38, good for sixth all time. Only Gretzky (four times) Only Gretzky (four times) and Mario Lemieux are ahead of him.

Obviously not the focus with where we’re at (in the series) but (it’s) not lost on me what (Gretzky) means to the game,” McDavid said.

Led by McDavid’s exploits, the Oilers staved off elimination to force a Game 5 on Tuesday night in Florida. Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was pulled early in the second period after allowing five goals on 16 shots and replaced by backup Anthony Stolarz.

It was a return to form for Edmonton offensively. The Oilers were held to one goal across the first two games of the series and didn’t have a multi-goal frame until the third period of Game 3. On Saturday night, they scored three goals in the first, three more in the second and two in the third. Edmonton also managed its first power-play goal of the Stanley Cup Final.

The Oilers are attempting to become only the second team in NHL history to overcome a 3-0 deficit in the championship series. They still need three more wins to join the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs in that club