Bouchard’s performance, which came in his 400th NHL game, was also the first six-point game by a defenseman since Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche on March 6, 2025 (two goals, four assists against Sharks). Bouchard is now tied for the defenseman lead in points (55 in 53 games this season) with Zach Werenski (55 in 47 games) and Makar (55 in 49 games). Over the past three seasons combined, Bouchard ranks third among defensemen in points (204 in 216 games) behind Makar (237 in 206 games) and Quinn Hughes (216 in 197 games).
Here are three underlying metrics storylines behind Bouchard’s continued scoring dominance:
1. Shots by location
All three of Bouchard’s goals against the Capitals on Saturday were from either midrange or long range. All three were also from the middle regions of the ice. Bouchard has scored eight midrange goals this season, which ranks in the 99th percentile among defensemen and second at the position behind Werenski’s 12. Bouchard has scored 23 goals from midrange (16) and long-range (seven) zones combined since the start of last season, which ranks fourth among NHL defensemen over that span behind Makar (31), Werenski and Jakob Chychrun (29 each).
Bouchard has been a standout in terms of advanced shot metrics all season long, ranking highly among defensemen in both midrange shots on goal (55; 99th percentile at position; second among D-men behind Werenski’s 63) and long-range shots on goal (69; 99th percentile at position and fourth in entire NHL).
Last season, Bouchard was tied with Gustav Forsling of the Florida Panthers for the most long-range shots on goal (131) in the entire NHL and tied for third among defensemen in midrange shots on goal (75).