What We Learned from the Oilers' 5-2 Win Over the Ducks

Every once in a while, a hockey game gives you something you didn't quite expect. Wednesday night in Anaheim, Evan Bouchard gave us one of those moments.

The Edmonton Oilers beat the Ducks 5-2, but the score doesn't really tell the story of Bouchard's night. He scored twice, added an assist and became just the second defenseman in NHL history to score six goals through the first four games of a season. The other guy was Harry Cameron of the Toronto Arenas way back in 1917-18.

That's quite a company to keep. But here's what I found more interesting.

What We Learned About Bouchard.

For years, I think we have tended to talk about Bouchard in relation to Edmonton's stars. How does he fit with Connor McDavid? How does he work with Leon Draisaitl? How much offence can he generate from the back end? Those are fair questions. But maybe we're at the point where we should stop thinking of Bouchard as a supporting character.

He is becoming one of the players who drives the story. He scored his first goal Wednesday just 11 seconds into the second period, getting Edmonton going after the Oilers had fallen behind 2-0. Later in the period, he scored again to put Edmonton ahead. That's not simply contributing. That's changing the game.

And I think there's something here that applies beyond Bouchard.

Great Teams Need More Than Their Stars.

We know about McDavid. We know about Draisaitl. Those guys will get the headlines. McDavid finished with a goal and two assists. Draisaitl had four assists. Of course they did. That’s what they do, game in and game out.

But Edmonton also needed Bouchard to step forward. They needed Devon Levi to make 28 saves. They needed goals from Kasperi Kapanen and Vasily Podkolzin. That's what good teams eventually discover.

The stars can't do everything. Somebody else has to become important on a night in Anaheim. Maybe that's what I like about Bouchard's start. He's not taking anything away from McDavid or Draisaitl. He's adding something.

Bouchard Has Rung the Bell, and Fans Are Watching.

And six goals in four games is certainly one way to announce yourself. I don't know where Bouchard finishes this season. I'm not particularly interested in predicting it. But I am interested in watching what happens when a player who has spent years playing alongside greatness begins to recognize that he belongs in the conversation himself.

That's what we learned Wednesday night about the Oilers.