'He's helped me': Oilers' Bouchard blossoming since arrival of new partner Ekholm
Getting more power play time with some of the best hockey players on the planet has certainly helped but Evan Bouchard also credited a new teammate Wednesday for his recent resurgence.
The 23-year-old Edmonton Oilers defenceman is playing more – and putting up more points – since being paired with Mattias Ekholm on March 1 against Toronto.
Bouchard has nine points in 10 games since then and is averaging more than 21 minutes of ice time.
Prior to playing with Ekholm, and taking over for Tyson Barrie on the top power play unit, he had 21 points in 61 games and averaged about 17 minutes per game.
"The more you play, the more confident you are, the more confident you feel," Bouchard told reporters Wednesday.
"And to have a partner there like [Ekholm] supporting me, it really makes me feel more confident in how I want to play to my abilities and he's helped me out a lot."
Ekholm has also played better since joining Bouchard.
After recording just one assist in his previous 10 games with the Nashville Predators, Ekholm has nine points in 10 games as an Oiler.
The big defenceman, known more for shutting down skilled opponents, also scored two goals Monday night in a 5-4 overtime win against San Jose.
"He's definitely a great teammate. He's a presence out there. You kinda know when he's on the ice, physical play, steadiness, even the offensive contributions," Bouchard said.
"Last game he was massive offensively and defensively and I think it's really paying off here with the team."
After Barrie was included in the Feb. 28 trade for Ekholm, head coach Jay Woodcroft said the team needed Bouchard to step up and play more. He has, with solid results.
"Ekholm's effect on Bouchard, that can't be lost on anybody. I think that pairing has been very good. They've been moving pucks," he told reporters.
"We know what we're getting every day from Mattias Ekholm. I think, as a coach, there's comfort in understanding someone's level of consistency like that. He's come as advertised and as expected."
The Oilers power play has not been as successful so far with Bouchard in Barrie's place, so Woodcroft pointed out there's room for improvement.
"But what I like about it is, with our power play not clicking at its usual rate, we still found a way to find ourselves 8-2. So that's a good thing," Woodcroft said.
The Oilers have won four straight games heading into Wednesday night's game against the Arizona Coyotes who are 6-2-2 in their last 10 games.
Edmonton (40-23-8) faces off against Arizona (27-33-11) shortly after 8:30 p.m. MT at Rogers Place.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.