Evan Bouchard Joins Rarefied Air with Historic Six-Point Night in Oilers’ OT Win
On a night when the Edmonton Oilers needed every ounce of offense, Evan Bouchard delivered a performance for the ages. In a wild 6-5 overtime win against the Washington Capitals at Rogers Place, the 24-year-old defenceman didn’t just show up-he put on a clinic.
Bouchard factored in every Oilers goal, racking up six points on three goals and three assists, firing eight shots, and finishing with a plus-5 rating. This wasn’t just a standout game-it was one of the most statistically dominant nights ever by an NHL defenceman.
Let’s break down just how special this showing was, both in the context of Oilers history and the NHL record books.
First Oilers Defenceman Hat Trick in Two Decades
Bouchard found the back of the net in all three regulation periods, completing his hat trick with a laser from the slot early in the third. That goal made him the first Oilers blueliner to notch a regular-season hat trick since Marc-Andre Bergeron did it back in 2006. Before that, you have to go back to the glory days of Paul Coffey and Risto Siltanen.
Coffey, of course, is the benchmark for offensive defensemen in Edmonton. He recorded four hat tricks during his time with the Oilers, including a four-goal explosion against Calgary in 1984. Bouchard also joined Coffey as the only Oilers defencemen to score three even-strength goals in a game-Coffey did it in 1985 against Chicago.
That’s not just rare company. That’s Hall of Fame-level company.
A Six-Point Night That’s Nearly Unheard Of
Bouchard’s three goals and three assists put him in elite territory. He became just the 21st defenceman in NHL history to record six points in a regular-season game-and only the fourth to do it since the 1994-95 season.
You have to go all the way back to March 1986 to find the last time an Oilers defenceman posted six points. That was Paul Coffey again, tying the NHL record for defensemen with eight points in a single game (two goals, six assists). Along with Bouchard and Coffey, Kevin Lowe is the only other Oilers blueliner to hit the six-point mark in a regular-season contest.
To put this in perspective: before Saturday, Bouchard’s career high in a regular-season game was three points-a mark he’d hit 16 times. He did have a four-point playoff performance in 2024, but this was a new level entirely.
Direct Involvement in All Six Goals
What makes Bouchard’s night even more jaw-dropping is that he had a hand in every single Oilers goal. He scored the first three, then assisted on the next three-including the game-winner in overtime, which he helped create with a play that was equal parts skill and instinct.
As the puck bounced loose near the blue line, Bouchard knocked it down with his glove, then-while falling-delivered a perfect pass to Connor McDavid, who finished the job on a breakaway. It was a moment of brilliance that capped off a night of total dominance.
In doing so, Bouchard became just the fourth defenceman in NHL history to record a point on every goal when their team scores six or more. The last to do it?
Al MacInnis in the early '90s. Before him, it was Doug Crossman and the legendary Bobby Orr.
Matching a Legend: Bobby Orr
Speaking of Orr, there’s one more layer to this already historic night. Until Saturday, the only defenceman in NHL history to record at least six points and eight shots in a regular-season game was Bobby Orr himself. Now, that exclusive club has a second member: Evan Bouchard.
That’s not hyperbole. That’s fact. And it puts Bouchard in the kind of company that speaks volumes about the level he reached in this game.
He also became the first Oilers defenceman ever to hit several stat combos in a single regular-season game:
- 3+ goals and a plus-5 rating
- 8+ shots and a plus-5 rating
- 3 goals and 3 assists
- 3 even-strength goals and 8 shots
These aren’t just big numbers-they’re combinations that had never been achieved by an Oilers defenceman before.
Milestone Game No. 400
As if the night needed any more significance, this just happened to be Bouchard’s 400th NHL regular-season game. He made it count in a way few ever have.
He tied the NHL record for most points in a 400th game, matching Glenn Anderson’s six-point night from 1985. And he became just the second defenceman ever to record a hat trick in their 400th game, joining Dougie Hamilton, who did it with Calgary during the 2017-18 season.
What’s Next?
After a performance like that, the natural question becomes: what can Bouchard possibly do for an encore? Oilers fans won’t have to wait long to find out. Edmonton is back in action Monday night when they host the Anaheim Ducks.
But no matter what happens next, Saturday’s game will be remembered as one of the greatest individual nights by a defenceman in NHL history. For Evan Bouchard, it was a statement. For the rest of the league, it was a warning: this guy’s not just growing into his role-he’s redefining it.