2023-24 Playoff Focus: Evan Bouchard (R2, GM4)
Edmonton's game-breaker on the back end
In a second-round tilt headlined by two former league MVPs and this year’s likely Norris Trophy winner, Evan Bouchard was the first star on Tuesday night.
The offensive defenseman pressed the issue from start to finish, unlocking Vancouver’s structure in transition while presenting a constant and potent threat in the OZ. Due to his phenomenal point shooting, his breakout passing occasionally flies under the radar, but it was crisp in Game 4.
Just ask Zach Hyman (EDM 18):
Upon retrieving a dump-in, Bouchard (EDM 2) shoulder-checks to survey the landscape and lasers the puck from his goal line to the OZ blue line…between a pair of Canucks defenders (VAN 6 and 47)...right onto his winger’s blade. The distance and accuracy of his stretch pass don’t allow Vancouver to settle into its posture. Easy access.
Throughout the contest, the 24-year-old’s transition play provided the Oilers with an endless stream of entries and rush opportunities. This also depleted the Canucks’ energy reserves. After all, you can only withstand so much pressure.
Bouchard is never shy about applying it himself either. Minutes into the first frame, he was already knocking on the door:
As Connor McDavid (EDM 97) wheels around the net, Bouchard inches forward and—the important bit—inside the hashes to offer his captain an attractive passing target. Arturs Silovs (VAN 31) gets a piece of the slot shot to survive the early onslaught.
Although that sequence didn’t yield a goal, similar off-puck movement would create Game 4’s decisive moment late in the third period:
Leon Draisaitl (EDM 29) is parked in Gretzky’s office waiting for a quality look to materialize. Once again, Bouchard meets the playmaker halfway by shuffling to the middle of the ice. Then his poise takes over. Instead of firing the puck ASAP, he waits for the Canucks to stack (VAN 9 and 23) and thus inadvertently screen Silovs before wiring his wrister stick side.
Game.
Vancouver had no answers for Bouchard on Tuesday night. He orchestrated the Oilers’ offense with controlled aggressiveness, and when the chips were down, his ice-cold composure drove a stake through the opposition’s heart.
On the night, he registered a team-leading 4 scoring chances, a 63.0 xGF%, 1 assist and the GWG. 2 GF, 0 GA at 5-on-5.
Here are the full highlights: