Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
With the Oilers’ first three-game win streak on the line, Evan Bouchard’s giveaway last night against Buffalo could not have come at a worse time.
For the team, the Bouchard giveaway midway through the second period led to an Oilers’ 4-3 overtime loss, and for the defenseman personally, it diminished his chances of getting tapped for a spot on Team Canada.
Oilers’ coach shows leniency on costly mistake
Mostly a conversation the next day about what had happened on the play. To tear a strip off him between periods or on the bench, I don’t think Is productive. He knows he made a mistake.
– Knoblauch on Bouchard
The video evidence of Evan’s gaffe last night is ugly, no question, and given he’s prone to these kinds of errors, bodes poorly for the offensive-defenseman.
Yet, since November 1, Bouchard has been indispensable to to his team’s success, and a likely factor in getting the offense going, even for McDavid.
Edmonton’s save percentage has improved to .915 in Bouchard’s minutes in November, while at 5v5, the Oilers are plus-8 when he’s on the ice, and minus-21 when he’s on the bench – a 29-goal differential.
The numbers are actually quite staggering. To put Evan’s play into perspective, if he was producing all year as he has been since November 1st, Bouchard’s 3.3 xG/60 would rank first among all team.
His 2.2 xG/60 without him on the ice would rank the team 31st. His importance to the Oilers cannot be overstated.
Which is why seeing him cough-up the puck the way he does can be so frustrating. Thankfully, all considered, the Oilers benefit when Bouchard plays.
Previously on Edmonton Hockey Daily
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Oilers’ Evan Bouchard roasted by NHL fans for huge gaffe against Sabres
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