Evan Bouchard’s Historic Night Lifts Oilers in Wild OT Win Over Capitals
Saturday night in Edmonton wasn’t just another game on the calendar - it was a gut-check moment for the Oilers. After opening their eight-game homestand with a dominant 5-0 win over the Blues, they followed it up with two flat-out forgettable performances against the Devils and Penguins.
The kind of games that make you reach for the remote. But against the Capitals, the Oilers didn’t just respond - they roared back.
Down three separate times - 3-2, 4-3, and 5-4 - Edmonton clawed their way into overtime and walked it off with a 6-5 win. And the man of the hour? Evan Bouchard, who delivered a performance that was both historic and heroic.
A Night for the Ages: Bouchard Joins Rare Company
Let’s talk about what Bouchard just did, because it’s not something you see every day - or even every decade. Three goals, six points.
That’s not just a career night; that’s a night that lands you in the NHL history books. Bouchard is now one of just six defensemen ever to put up three goals and six points in a single game.
Here’s the company he just joined: Doug Crossman, Tom Bladon, Bobby Orr, Sprague Cleghorn, and Reg Noble. That’s a list that spans over a century of hockey history, with names that range from legends to deep-cuts for trivia night. And now, Bouchard’s name is etched among them.
What made it even more impressive? He did it without being on the ice for a single goal against - despite Washington putting up five.
Over 29 minutes and 25 seconds of ice time, Bouchard led all defensemen in even-strength minutes (19:04), power-play minutes (8:19), and penalty kill time (1:58). And in all situations, the Capitals managed just two high-danger chances and 0.45 expected goals while he was out there.
That’s elite-level impact on both ends of the ice.
And if you’re wondering, yes - this was his first career hat trick. You wouldn’t have guessed it from his calm demeanor as hats rained down from the Rogers Place crowd, but make no mistake: this was the best game of his career.
What About Team Canada?
There’s no way to ignore the elephant in the room here: Evan Bouchard isn’t on Team Canada’s Olympic roster.
Canada’s blue line for the upcoming Games mirrors the one they took to the 4-Nations Face-Off last February - Cale Makar, Josh Morrissey, Devon Toews, Travis Sanheim, Shea Theodore, Thomas Harley, Colton Parayko, and Drew Doughty. It’s a solid group, no question, and they got the job done in Montreal and Boston. But there were concerns - particularly about their ability to move the puck and generate offense from the back end.
In that tournament, Canadian defensemen combined for just four points - all assists - the lowest total among the four participating nations. Makar and Harley were bright spots, but overall, the group struggled to drive offense.
That’s where Bouchard’s omission starts to raise eyebrows. The knock on him used to be that he wasn’t physical enough, didn’t kill penalties, didn’t play a full 200-foot game.
But that narrative is getting harder and harder to justify. Saturday night was a masterclass in all three zones - and it’s not an isolated incident.
Anyone watching the Oilers this season knows Bouchard has elevated his game.
Connor McDavid, who had two goals and five points of his own in the win, put it plainly: “He’s a heckuva player, among a lot of great Canadian defencemen. It’s a good problem to have, but I’m sure [Team Canada’s] management has been watching.”
If they weren’t before, they are now.
Oilers Looking to Build Momentum
Zooming out, this win could be more than just a thrilling comeback - it might be the spark the Oilers need to get back on track. After that 8-3 drubbing by Dallas in their first game back from a long road trip in November, they responded with a 9-3-1 stretch heading into the Christmas break. But since then, they’ve been treading water - a 6-6-2 record heading into Saturday night.
This homestand is a chance to reset the tone. They’ve got the Ducks on Monday, the Sharks on Thursday, the Wild next Saturday, and the Maple Leafs on Tuesday, February 3rd. Then it’s a quick trip to Calgary before the Olympic break.
It’s go time.
There’s no question the Oilers are loaded with talent. But talent alone doesn’t win games - urgency does.
And Saturday night, they played like a team that knew it. Now the challenge is to keep that edge, keep that fight, and keep stacking wins.
Because if Bouchard’s breakout night is any indication, this team still has another gear. And the rest of the league better be ready.