Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (29), Evan Bouchard (2) and Connor McDavid (97) celebrate a goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during overtime NHL action, in Edmonton on Saturday, November 1, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Chicago Blackhawks' Nick Foligno (17) is stopped by Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner (74) as Evan Bouchard (2) defends during third period NHL action, in Edmonton on Saturday, November 1, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (29), Evan Bouchard (2) and Connor McDavid (97) celebrate a goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during overtime NHL action, in Edmonton on Saturday, November 1, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
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Chicago Blackhawks' Nick Foligno (17) is stopped by Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner (74) as Evan Bouchard (2) defends during third period NHL action, in Edmonton on Saturday, November 1, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
EDMONTON - Just one game after taking the bulk of the blame for an overtime loss, Evan Bouchard bounced back big time and provided his team with an overtime win.
Bouchard coughed up the puck on a couple of goals and then blew coverage in overtime as the New York Rangers came back from a 3-1 deficit to beat 4-3 over Edmonton on Thursday. But Saturday was a completely different story as he scored on his own rebound in overtime against the Chicago Blackhawks and added an assist in regulation as the Oilers won 3-2.
The 26-year-old Oilers defenceman said it helped that they caught the Hawks flat-footed with a good change in extra time.
鈥淲hen you get a tired group with Connor (McDavid) and Leon (Draisaitl) out there, they鈥檙e going to make the play,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 just tried to get open, Leon made a good pass and it went in.鈥
Bouchard said it was a relief to exorcise some of his defensive demons so quickly after taking so much heat for Thursday鈥檚 collapse.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to learn and move on from it. It鈥檚 far from a perfect game,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 can definitely clean some more things up, but I am glad I got one and contributed offensively.鈥
Captain McDavid, who assisted on all three goals, was particularly pleased to see Bouchard get some quick redemption.
鈥淵ou guys (media) can say what you want about him, we love him in there and we know his best is among the very, very, very best,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e got his back no matter what鈥檚 going on. His play can be better, everyone鈥檚 play can be better, but I鈥檓 really happy for him to get that big goal and quiet some people a little bit.鈥
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said Bouchard has taken his tough start to the season to heart and is working hard to get back to being much more reliable.
鈥淚 know his game has been frustrating to himself. It鈥檚 not like he has been like 鈥榳hatever鈥 and shrugging his shoulders. That鈥檚 not the case with Evan,鈥 Knoblauch said.
鈥淗e feels, and so do we, that he can be one of the best defencemen in the NHL every night. He wasn鈥檛 playing like that, but tonight was more of what I am familiar with. He made some nice plays, the power play went two-for-two and he has a lot to do with that, and he gets the overtime winner.
"Obviously, he has a lot of attention on the mistakes that he has made and hopefully he feels good and gets some recognition for the overtime winner tonight.鈥
Draisaitl had a goal and an assist and Jack Roslovic also scored for the Oilers (6-4-3), who have won two of their last three.
Draisaitl extended his points streak against Chicago to 19 games, dating to Oct. 28, 2018, the longest active streak by any player in the NHL against a single team. During that stretch he has amassed an impressive 15 goals and 22 assists. Draisaitl is also in the midst of an eight-game overall points streak, with six goals and six assists over that span.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins played in his 972nd career game as an Oiler, passing Ryan Smyth for the second most in franchise history. Nugent-Hopkins is off to a strong start to the season, adding an assist against the Hawks to hit 13 points in 13 games.
Stuart Skinner registered 27 saves to collect the win in net for Edmonton.
This report by 好色tvwas first published Nov. 1, 2025.
