McDavid relieved to score OT winner after earlier miss

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid scored the double-overtime winner in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final on Thursday off a perfect centering pass from Evan Bouchard.

However, being the hero didn't stop McDavid from wishing that he scored a little earlier. He was robbed of a sure goal by Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger and blue-liner Chris Tanev in the final minutes of the first extra frame.

"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."

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

McDavid didn't get off to the best start in overtime, taking 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.

"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."

While the Oilers killed off his four-minute infraction, McDavid 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."

McDavid became the seventh player in franchise history with multiple playoff overtime goals.

"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.