EDMONTON 鈥� The Edmonton Oilers needed a confidence boost and got one in thrilling fashion against the Montreal Canadiens.
Evan Bouchard scored in overtime and had an assist in regulation as Edmonton earned a key 3-2 victory over the Habs on Thursday. The Oilers had lost six of their previous seven games, while Montreal has been on fire, coming into the contest riding a five-game winning streak.
鈥淚t was definitely a good feeling,鈥� Bouchard said. 鈥淲e needed to get a win to get back in the win column. That was a big one for myself and the team."
Leon Draisaitl scored his league-leading 46th goal and added an assist for the Oilers (36-22-4). Corey Perry also scored and Connor McDavid had a pair of assists.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e letting in two goals or less in a game, the chances are that you鈥檙e going to win it," said Bouchard. "Playing (good) defence, the biggest thing we were missing the past six or seven games, that was a big one for us.鈥�
After a scoreless third period, Edmonton put the game away with just 6.9 seconds remaining in overtime as McDavid circled the zone before sending a saucer pass to a hard-charging Bouchard, who beat Habs goalie Sam Montembeault for his 11th goal of the season.
McDavid has factored in on eight of the Oilers鈥� 10 overtime goals this season.
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said he hopes that this win gets the team out of its recent funk.
鈥淚 think that鈥檚 guys feeling tight, guys not feeling confident,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen things aren鈥檛 going well and you鈥檙e losing games, the execution lacks. I think we鈥檙e in the right direction right now.鈥�
Stuart Skinner was one of those in need of some fuzzy feelings and looked sharp in net with 26 saves.
鈥淚t felt fantastic. I haven't gotten a win in a while, obviously, so Bouch putting that puck in the net 鈥� I was extremely happy," said Skinner. "I've got to realize that that's an everyday thing for me, showing up that way and being able to play those types of games.
"I鈥檝e got that in me to continue for the rest of the year and going into playoffs."
Recently acquired in a trade with the Boston Bruins, forward Max Jones had a strong debut, recording his first assist of the season as an Oiler on a pretty stretch pass that helped set up Perry鈥檚 goal.
鈥淚 felt good. My game feels like it鈥檚 in a good spot. I just felt like I was playing like I was free out there,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淚 just came in even-keeled and tried to be smiling and happy and bringing everything I鈥檝e got every shift.鈥�
Edmonton also got physical forward Trent Frederic in the deal with Boston, but he is recovering from an injury.
The Oilers confirmed after the game that they had acquired defenceman Jake Walman from the San Jose Sharks in a deal just before the NHL's trade deadline.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 6, 2025.
Shane Jones, The Canadian Press
