Connor McDavid gets emotional over dangerous hit that nearly ended in disaster

Connor McDavid finished Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Anaheim Ducks with a goal and three assists, but the postgame talk was all about a hit.

Ducks defenseman Drew Helleson sent the Edmonton Oilers captain into the left post at 8:06 of the first period at Rogers Place.

McDavid stayed down for a moment, then got up and voiced his displeasure.

The scrum that followed cost teammate Vasily Podkolzin a fighting major, an instigating minor and a game misconduct.

McDavid went to the dressing room briefly to get checked out but came back later in the period.

There is history here. McDavid broke his left collarbone as a rookie in 2015-16 after crashing into the end boards while driving to the net, and he missed 37 games.

In the final game of the 2018-19 regular season, he tore a small ligament in his left knee after Mark Giordano of the Calgary Flames tripped him into the right post.

McDavid said he doesn't expect a free lane to the net and figures a hit like that will always bring a response.

His bigger point was about consistency.

He wishes the net got the same respect as the end wall, since the post and the goalie make it just as risky for him and the netminder.

McDavid thanked Podkolzin for stepping in and added that people forget he has emotions like everyone else.

Good news for Edmonton is that he wasn't hurt and looked fine when he returned.

His point streak to open the season has reached 17 games, and his 44 points (10 goals and 34 assists) during it lead the League.

Edmonton made a late push, but Anaheim held on in the end, so the hit became the story of the night.

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