Edmonton Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard sets new playoff scoring record

Evan Bouchard has been having an incredible playoff through the first two rounds and is rewriting the record books.

Bouchard reached this elusive feat on the backs of a two-assist outing in Game 7, including getting a primary assist on Ryan Nugent-Hopkin’s series-clinching goal late in the second period. Not only did this help him become the first defenceman ever to reach 20 points through the first two rounds of a playoff run, but he is now tied for 22nd all-time for the most points in one postseason by a blueliner.

For reference, the record is currently held by Paul Coffey who recorded 37 points in the 1984-85 playoffs. While it is unlikely that Bouchard can catch up to his current assistant coach, it is certainly doable for him to become only the fourth defender ever to reach 30 points in a playoff run and the first since Brian Leetch did so in 1993-94.

Suffice it to say that Bouchard has really taken his game to new heights in this postseason. Not only did he become the third fastest defenceman to hit 40 career playoff points, but he was also much more impressive in the second round than Norris-Trophy finalist Quinn Hughes. Bouchard has cemented his place this spring as Edmonton’s number one defenceman, and he is a major reason why the team now sits four wins away from their first Stanley Cup finals appearance since 2006.

Going into the third round, he is third on his team in scoring, behind only Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. Bouchard and the two aforementioned players are the only players on the Oilers to have at least 20 points in these playoffs, and he is the runaway leader in scoring among their blueliners, as the next closest is Mattias Ekholm with six.

He and the Oilers will look to continue their incredible playoff run when they kick off the Western Conference Finals on Thursday night in Dallas. You can catch the action on CBC and Sportsnet with puck drop scheduled for 6:30 p.m. MDT.