Evan Bouchard sets new NHL record for most assists by defenceman in one playoff run

Edmonton Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard has set a new National Hockey League record for most assists by a defenceman in a single playoff run with his 26th of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Bouchard, 24, recorded his record-breaking 26th assist of the postseason midway through the second period of the Oilers’ 5-3 win over the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday evening.

With the Oilers on the power play, Bouchard dropped the puck back to Oilers captain Connor McDavid, who split the Panthers’ defence before setting up Corey Perry for a tap-in at the foot of Sergei Bobrovsky’s crease.

Bouchard last touched the puck in the defensive zone on the play but nevertheless received credit for his third assist of the game. The Oakville, Ontario product picked up helpers on all three Oilers goals in the second period; Perry’s marker ultimately stood as the game winner.

Through 23 games with the Oilers in these playoffs, Bouchard has collected six goals and 32 points. The Oilers currently trail the Panthers three games to two through the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final.

Former Oilers defenceman and current assistant coach Paul Coffey previously held the record for most assists by a defenceman in a single playoff run, with 25. The Hockey Hall of Fame inductee set that record in just 18 games to help the Oilers win their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship.

The Oilers originally selected Bouchard in the first round (No. 10 overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft. The 6’3″ right-handed defenceman made his NHL debut with the club during the 2018-19 season and established himself as a full-timer in 2021-22.

Through 265 career games over parts of five NHL seasons with the Oilers, Bouchard has collected 41 goals and 171 points. He’s added 13 goals and 58 points in 51 playoff games over three playoff runs with the team.

The Panthers outshot the Oilers 32 to 24 in Game 5 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida on Tuesday. McDavid scored twice and added a pair of assists for the Oilers, while Matthew Tkachuk, Evan Rodrigues, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored for the Panthers.

The Oilers are now one win away from tying the series; the Panthers, of course, remain on the verge of winning their first Stanley Cup. The two teams will reconvene for an absolutely monumental Game 6 at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Friday night at 6:00 p.m. MT.