Oilers have a brutal Connor McDavid problem

A stat emerged after Thursday night's Edmonton Oilers loss that is remarkable in a number of ways.

But what it really says is that the Oilers' reliance on superstar Connor McDavid, while logical, can be a bit of a crutch.

There have been 12 games in the Oilers' season in which McDavid hasn't tallied a point.

According to Sportsnet, the Oilers have lost all 12 -- 10 in regulation and two in overtime.

The Oilers are 34-17-7 when McDavid notches at least one point, with 75 of their 77 points coming in the 58 games that McDavid has gotten on the board.

Obviously, on one hand, this makes sense. McDavid is on the ice so much and in so many scoring situations that, if he doesn't score, it's probably a bad sign for the overall productivity of the Oilers.

With Leon Draisaitl now out injured, it looms even larger, because that's one less bit of firepower ready to hop over the boards when McDavid heads off the ice for a bit.

MORE: Oilers might be closer to Connor McDavid nightmare than it appears

On the other hand, though, this is a problem. Everyone has off nights, even the best hockey player on the planet.

If the Oilers can't ever find a way to overcome a quiet McDavid, there'll be a crucial game at some point in which their lack of support comes back to bite them.

The good news is that McDavid almost always delivers.

But it would be much more comforting for the Oilers if they knew how to get it done alongside him occasionally, too, rather than putting the world's whole weight on his superstar shoulders.

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