Evan Bouchard’s Historic Night Powers Oilers Past Capitals in Wild 6-5 OT Win
Saturday night in Edmonton delivered the kind of game that reminds you why you love hockey in the first place. Goals, comebacks, highlight-reel plays-and a bit of history to top it off. The Oilers and Capitals went toe-to-toe in a back-and-forth thriller, and it was Edmonton who came out on top, 6-5 in overtime, thanks to a monster night from Evan Bouchard and some late-game heroics from Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman.
Let’s break it down.
A First Period That Ended with a Bang
The Oilers came out flying in the opening frame, peppering Washington’s Charlie Lindgren with chances but coming up empty for most of the period. That changed in the final minute when Zach Hyman worked a puck free in the corner and kicked off a slick passing sequence.
Mattias Ekholm slid it over to Bouchard at the point, and the Oilers’ blueliner did the rest-bar down, no doubt about it. That was the first of what would become a six-point night for Bouchard, including a hat trick.
Yeah, you read that right.
But the celebration didn’t last long. Just 22 seconds later, Washington answered.
Rasmus Sandin’s initial shot was stopped by Connor Ingram, but Aliaksei Protas crashed the net and buried the rebound. One shot, one goal for the Caps, and we were tied heading into the break.
Bouchard Keeps Firing, But Capitals Keep Answering
Early in the second, Bouchard struck again. With Hyman providing a screen, Bouchard let another wrister go, and despite Lindgren’s best effort-he literally threw his glove at it-it found twine. That made it 2-1 Edmonton.
But again, Washington responded quickly. Justin Sourdif came in on the rush, gave the impression he was going to pass, then wired one high glove on Ingram. Tie game, 2-2.
The Capitals grabbed their first lead of the night later in the period. Anthony Beauvillier tried to dish the puck across the crease, but it deflected off Spencer Stastney’s skate and snuck through Ingram’s five-hole.
Tough bounce, but it counted just the same. Washington took a 3-2 lead into the third.
Bouchard’s Hat Trick, McDavid’s Magic, and a Wild Finish
If there was any doubt about Bouchard’s night being special, he erased it early in the third during four-on-four play. Given far too much space, he picked his spot and ripped one off the post and in for his third of the game.
That made him the first Oilers defenseman to record a hat trick since Marc-André Bergeron did it back in 2006. And Bouchard wasn’t done.
But the Capitals weren’t either. Just over two minutes later, Dylan Strome-McDavid’s old Erie Otters teammate-restored the Washington lead with a post-and-in snipe of his own.
Then came the power play. Midway through the third, the Oilers got their chance, and McDavid made it count.
From the faceoff dot, he unleashed a laser that beat Lindgren clean. That was his 31st of the season, and guess who had the primary assist?
Bouchard, of course.
Even after all that, the Capitals still had one more punch to throw. They went up 5-4, and it looked like that might be enough.
But Edmonton wasn’t done. With the goalie pulled and time winding down, McDavid got the puck to the front of the net, and Hyman did what Hyman does-battle in the blue paint and poke it home. Tie game, 5-5, with just over 30 seconds left.
And then, overtime.
OT Magic: McDavid Seals It
In the extra frame, Bouchard made one last big play-leaping to glove down a puck, getting tripped in the process, and still managing to find McDavid with a perfect pass. Alone on a breakaway, the best player in the world did what he does: no mistake, game over.
Bouchard Makes History
Let’s take a moment to appreciate just how rare Bouchard’s night was. Three goals, three assists, and a critical zone keep in the final minute that helped set up the tying goal.
He became the first Oilers defenseman in 40 years to record a six-point game. That’s not just a good night-it’s a historic one.
Bouchard continues to cement himself as one of the league’s elite offensive defensemen. His ability to control the pace from the blue line, quarterback the power play, and deliver in clutch moments is becoming a defining trait of this Oilers team.
Other Notables: Savoie’s Spark, Fourth Line Finds Its Groove
Matthew Savoie had a strong showing, especially early. He generated a quality scoring chance in the first, drew a penalty, and looked confident with the puck.
He and Isaac Howard are starting to develop some chemistry, though their line with Jack Roslovic struggled at five-on-five, owning just 24.51% of the expected goals. It might be time to consider pairing the rookies with a more seasoned presence like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
On the flip side, Edmonton’s fourth line might finally be clicking. Outside of a high-sticking double minor from Curtis Lazar, that group controlled over 65% of the expected goals at even strength and outshot the opposition 8-2. That’s the kind of depth performance playoff teams need.
Goaltending Woes and Whistle-Happy Refs
Not the best night for Connor Ingram, who allowed three goals on just 12 shots before being pulled. It was only the second time in his last 10 appearances that he finished with a save percentage below .900. Tristan Jarry came in and stopped 13 of 15, a solid if unspectacular performance that helped stabilize things.
The officials, meanwhile, were busy. The two teams combined for 24 penalty minutes, and both went 1-for-5 on the power play. Washington’s fifth goal came shortly after a man advantage expired, adding to the special teams storyline.
What’s Next
This was the fourth game of an eight-game homestand for the Oilers, who are finding their rhythm at just the right time. Next up: the Anaheim Ducks roll into town on Monday night. Puck drop is set for 6:30 PM MT.
If Saturday night was any indication, you’re going to want to tune in.