Connor McDavid is back in the scoring race

After an uncharacteristically slow start to his season, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid is back to setting the league ablaze with his offensive production.

The 2015 first overall pick had just 14 points in his first 11 games, strong numbers, but far below his usual pace that leads him to regularly exceed 120 points.

Since then, he’s got 48 points in 26 games, just under two points per contest, and he’s taken the NHL point lead from Colorado star Nathan MacKinnon, who’s up to 61 points. MacKinnon became the first player to reach 30 goals over the weekend, while McDavid only has 23, but the two best players in the league are going blow for blow as the New Year draws nearer.

On Monday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, host Tyler Yaremchuk and co-host and former NHL defenseman Colby Cohen discussed McDavid’s recent run of brilliance and how it has him back in the race for the Art Ross.

Tyler Yaremchuk: How about the run that Connor McDavid is on right now? Quickly reminding everybody that those early season struggles… those are all well in the rear view mirror. Look at the December 97’s putting up here. 12 goals, 26 points in just 11 games for Connor McDavid. He’s helped the Oilers right the ship a little bit, but the other thing he’s done… a year where it’s MacKinnon and McDavid miles ahead of the pack just going toe-to-toe.

Colby Cohen: These two guys, man. They’re different. They really are. When it comes to the offensive side of things, the two of these guys can create and go to a different level than everybody else with Connor still in the pole position, I think as far as “The Guy” right now in the National Hockey League.

You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…