SUNRISE, Fla. — Connor McDavid was in the midst of a hockey nightmare.

The superstar captain’s Edmonton Oilers — among the Stanley Cup favourites in training camp — had just suffered another demoralizing loss.

The last-place, torn-down-to-the-studs San Jose Sharks were celebrating a 3-2 victory down the hall that brought the rebuilding club even on points with McDavid’s confused and frustrated group.