"No kids, so he's the closest thing I've got": Connor McDavid, wife Lauren emphasize dog Lenny's importance in their lives

On December 5, Connor McDavid celebrated reaching 1,000 career NHL points at Rogers Place. His wife, Lauren Kyle and their dog, Lenny, joined him for the special occasion. Lenny became a highlight of the event, drawing attention.

The ceremony featured a video tribute to McDavid’s journey to 1,000 points. His teammates, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Darnell Nurse, gifted him a custom-engraved Rolex watch. They also presented him with a golden stick and Tiffany crystal. However, Lenny’s presence made the moment even more special.

In an interview with Sportsnet, McDavid talked about Lenny, saying:

"No kids, so he's the closest thing I've got. He's a great little dog and I love him. It was great having him out there."

Lauren Kyle also spoke about Lenny’s role in their lives. She shared that after tough games, Lenny is always there to offer support. She was happy that Lenny could be part of such an important event.

"I think the (after the) worst games, when you come home and your dog's just there for nothing but support, and that means the most to him (Connor), and he's (Lenny) just been there throughout the years to support him. So it means so much for us that he was able to be a part of this moment. So we're really happy," Lauren said.

Lauren also expressed her pride in Connor’s milestone. She said it was wild to watch the playback of his 100, 200 and 300 points.

"It was wild to see the playback of each 100, 200, 300 points, and just remember the path that it took to get there. And I was just so proud of him for getting there. And it's just an incredible accomplishment," she said.

For both Connor McDavid and Lauren, Lenny’s presence made the moment even more memorable.

Connor McDavid provided helpers on four goals in Oilers' 6-3 win

The Edmonton Oilers beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-3 on Thursday at Rogers Place. Zach Hyman scored twice and Connor McDavid had four assists.

Columbus scored first at 2:31. Mikael Pyyhtia’s shot deflected off Mattias Janmark and Kevin Labanc, slipping past Calvin Pickard. Edmonton tied it 1-1 at 9:46 when McDavid passed to Hyman for a tap-in goal.

At 2:22 of the second period, McDavid passed to Leon Draisaitl, who scored with a backhand shot for a 2-1 lead. Columbus challenged for goalie interference, but the goal stood. On the power play, Mattias Ekholm made it 3-1 at 4:02 by scoring on his own rebound. Hyman added another goal at 6:53 with a wrist shot after a tic-tac-toe play with McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

Damon Severson scored for Columbus at 10:02, cutting the lead to 4-2 with a deflected shot. At 18:30, Jeff Skinner scored for Edmonton, backhanding in a pass from Adam Henrique to make it 5-2.

In the third, Cole Sillinger scored for Columbus at 6:10 with a wrist shot through traffic. Draisaitl sealed the win with a power-play goal at 13:37, snapping a shot from the left circle. Edmonton controlled the game, outshooting Columbus 16-7 in the second period and finishing strong.