Evan Bouchard is in the record books once again.

This time, the Edmonton Oilers defenceman entered the record books with an all-time performance, scoring three goals and five points, becoming the first blue liner with as many points in a season-opening game. The only player with more points in a season opener was Pittsburgh Penguins forward Kevin Stevens, who had a two-goal, six-point night on Oct. 5, 1990.

He scored a goal in each period of the Oilers’ 6-5 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks. His first came with three and a half minutes left in the first period, when a puck came to him on the point off a faceoff in Vancouver’s zone, before he walked the line and fired a long shot home.

His second came in the second period, off some work from Alex Formenton, who was elevated to the Oilers’ top line ahead of the game. He carried the puck into the offensive zone, getting hauled down along the halfwall, before Connor McDavid swooped in to grab the puck. He found Bouchard in the shot, who made no mistake beating Kevin Lankinen.

The goal sending hats raining onto the Rogers Place ice came, once again, after a faceoff. McDavid won a faceoff back to the blue liner, who sent a floating shot onto the net, finding twine.

The hat trick itself was the first from a defenceman in a season-opening game since Hartford Whalers defenceman Mark Howe had a three-goal, four-point performance on Oct. 9, 1980. Not bad company for the Oilers defenceman.

For Bouchard, it was his second hat trick of his career, following a Jan. 24 game against the Washington Capitals, joining Paul Coffey (four times) with multiple hat tricks in franchise history.

While Bouchard may not have won the Norris Trophy last season, his season-opening performance will put the league on notice.

Zach Laing is the managing editor at Daily Faceoff Edmonton and news director at The Nation Network. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.

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