BLOG: Bouchard beginning to break through offensively this season

EDMONTON, AB - One goal goes in and then, all of the sudden, you're starting to feel it.
Since scoring twice to help set in motion Edmonton's incredible third-period comeback over the New York Rangers last Saturday, defenceman Evan Bouchard has been enjoying his most productive offensive stretch of the season since breaking the schneid at Madison Square Garden.
"Yeah, sometimes it's kind of the way it is," he said. "Shots get blocked, you grip your stick a little tighter, but it's good to see the one go and it kind of takes a weight off your shoulder and just lets you play."
The Oakville product went pointless in eight games from the Oilers blueline before recording an assist against the New Jersey Devils on Nov. 21 to begin a seven-game stretch where he's posted three goals and three assists -- including a four-game point streak that was snapped on Saturday in a 5-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.
Additionally, Bouchard's been enjoying some more recent regularity on the Oilers power play, having seen his fair share of time on the man advantage in a time split with Tyson Barrie since the start of the season.
The 23-year-old notched a power-play assist and commanded 79.6 percent (3:59) of power-play time in this past Thursday's loss to the Minnesota Wild before playing 54.5 percent (4:04) of Edmonton's inflated PP time versus the Canadiens alongside the likes of Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid.
"Yeah, I think that's the special thing about it when you got someone like Leon, Connor, Nuge and Hyms either down low or in front. It's kind of you got to pick your poison of who do you want to cover," he said. "And usually, someone opens and all those guys on it can make you pay."

Bouchard's toolkit includes some solid puck distribution that can get the puck onto the stick of Edmonton's most dangerous players, along with some strong puck IQ that allows the defender to play into and prosper in the Oilers free-flowing power-play approach.
"Yeah, I think that's what makes the power play so special," Bouchard said. "You can give the puck to anyone on the ice, they're going to make a play, and there's nothing set in stone, so it's kind of play your game, find the open man, and I think that's why it's working out so well."
Then, there's his patented Bouch Bomb that explodes in the wrist- or slap-shot style that represents a lethal outlet up top for the unit when things looked locked up in front of him.
"I think it's important to have a shot up top. But like I said, the more you can get the puck into those guys' hands, the better."

Bouchard's first of the season versus the Rangers was nothing other than a complete snipe that beat Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin bar down while Dylan Holloway provided the screen as an Oilers power play expired. When he got all of his second of the game three minutes later, it was a seeing-eye slap shot from between the hashmarks that avoided everyone in front to find the spot over Shesterkin's right pad through traffic to make it a 3-2 game.
The 23-year-old's seen more of his shots find its way on goal as of late, including seven shots in Monday's win over Florida that saw Bouchard score the tying goal with 4.4 seconds on the clock.
"I think there are guys that get paid big money to block shots, right? So it's kind of an important thing to do," he said. "But to be able to change your angle and make sure it gets by the first player is crucial, really."
The majority of that success has been attributed to a renewed approach toward changing up his angles and delaying his shots so pucks are able to beat the first man, says his head coach.

"I think he's simplifying some things on the offensive side of it," Coach Jay Woodcroft said. "I think he's concentrating on getting it away maybe a half second quicker, not worrying if we have a screen that front, but more so just getting a shot away quick. He's done a really good job, specifically in the last few games, and we're going to need them."
With a number of potent offensive options out of the lineup due to injury, Bouchard's contributions will continue to be relied upon in keeping the goals coming for Edmonton until reinforcements return from Injured Reserve.
"I think he drives a lot of offence for our team, and for him to get on the board and start feeling confident, he's an important piece on our back end."