The Day After 53.0: Hyman\u2019s late goal, Bouchard\u2019s historic performance carry Oilers over Capitals<\/p>\n
That was certainly an exciting way to get back into the win column.<\/p>\n
After back-to-back uninspiring losses at home earlier this week, the Edmonton Oilers<\/a> clawed out a wild 6-5 overtime victory over the Washington Capitals on Saturday night, evening their record at two wins and two losses through the midway point of their eight-game homestand.<\/p>\n Washington arrived in Edmonton fresh off a 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames the night before and looked very much like a team eager to keep rolling.<\/p>\n Evan Bouchard opened the scoring late in the first period, but Aliaksei Protas answered just 22 seconds later to send the teams into the intermission tied 1-1. Bouchard struck again early in the second, only for the Capitals to respond with two goals of their own to grab the lead.<\/p>\n The back-and-forth continued in the third. Bouchard completed his first career hat trick early in the frame to make it 3-3, but Dylan Strome restored Washington\u2019s lead on the power play minutes later. Edmonton answered quickly, with Connor McDavid tying the game on the man advantage. With five minutes remaining, Connor McMichael appeared to deliver the decisive blow for the Capitals, but Zach Hyman kept the Oilers alive by jamming home the equalizer with just 32 seconds left in regulation.<\/p>\n With five minutes left to go in the third, Connor McMichael put the Caps ahead with a 5-4 lead. The Oilers responded with 32 seconds left to go on the clock, as Zach Hyman shovelled a puck past goaltender Charlie Lindgren to keep the game alive.<\/p>\n Overtime didn\u2019t last long. Just 47 seconds in, Bouchard corralled a floating puck in the defensive zone and, while being tripped and sent into the boards, managed to spring McDavid on a breakaway for the winner.<\/p>\n The night belonged to Bouchard<\/a>, who factored in on all six of Edmonton\u2019s goals. Playing in his 400th NHL game, the tenth overall pick from the 2018 draft posted three goals and three assists, finished plus-five, and logged a massive 29:25 of ice time.<\/p>\n It was a historic performance on a milestone night. Bouchard became just the fourth defenceman in NHL history to factor in on all six goals in a game, joining Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey, and Al MacInnis. He also became only the second defenceman ever to record a six-point game with eight shots on goal, a feat previously achieved only by Orr. Among Oilers blueliners, Bouchard is now the third to post a six-point night, alongside Coffey and Kevin Lowe, and the first since Coffey\u2019s eight-point explosion in 1986. His hat trick was the first by an Edmonton defenceman in nearly two decades and made him just the second defenceman in league history to record one in his 400th career game.<\/p>\n