Oilers Defenseman Bouchard Vows to Rebound After Costly Errors in Loss to Islanders
EDMONTON, AB – edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard is resolute to bounce back after a challenging performance contributed to a 4-2 loss against the New York Islanders on Thursday night.Bouchard acknowledged making “bad plays” that directly led to both Islanders goals, including a turnover to mathew Barzal in the neutral zone resulting in Barzal’s frist goal since January, and being caught out of position allowing Bo Horvat to score short-handed.
The game marked New York’s first victory of the season. Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch, while acknowledging Bouchard’s overall talent – calling him “one of the best in the league, certainly one of the best defensemen in the NHL” – stated bluntly, “I’ve seen Evan play better.” Knoblauch emphasized the need to address the nature of the mistakes, adding, “Mistakes happen, but you have to address what types of mistakes are happening.”
The performance came at a possibly inopportune moment, with Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien brisebois, also a member of hockey Canada’s management staff, in attendance. Bouchard is considered a long shot for the Olympic team, in part due to his susceptibility to turnovers.
However, teammates and coaches are confident in Bouchard’s ability to quickly recover. Veteran defenseman mattias Ekholm noted Bouchard’s “super power” is his ability to quickly forget mistakes, a trait Knoblauch has observed throughout Bouchard’s career, including during multiple Stanley Cup Final appearances.
“I usually see him bounce back immediately after a bad shift…and he makes the next play the next time,” Knoblauch said.
Bouchard confirmed teammates encourage him to “keep making plays” even during difficult games.The Oilers face the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, and Ekholm predicted, “I’m pretty sure we’ll see a different Bouchard. I’m sure he’ll be back with force and vengeance.”
