NHL

Edmonton Oilers at Colorado Avalanche

· National Hockey League
Final
2 - 1

Evan Bouchard scores OT winner, Oilers beat Avalanche 2-1

This definitely qualifies: The Oilers are on an eight-game winning streak and McDavid on a 15-game points streak.

Evan Bouchard scored a power-play goal 1:50 into overtime, Stuart Skinner stopped 28 shots and the Oilers keep rolling along, beating the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 on Tuesday night.

“If you can come in with a good feeling and play good hockey usually you get off to a good start” in the postseason, said Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm, who had a first-period goal. “So that’s the focus right now.”

Bouchard lined a shot past Alexandar Georgiev to set off a celebration. Moments earlier, Colorado defenseman Bowen Byram drew a penalty for hooking McDavid as the Oilers center powered toward the goal.

McDavid assisted on the OT winner to extend his points streak and become the first player in NHL history to have three different points streaks of 15 or more games in the same season. He’s only had seven games where he didn’t register a point.

The Oilers remain in the chase for the Pacific Division title with one game remaining. They also extended their points streak to 14 straight games.

“We deserved the win in the end,” Ekholm said. “I thought we were the better team and that was obviously great to see versus a really good hockey club.”

A contest featuring two high scoring teams turned into a defensive showdown. It was no surprise, though, this game went into an extra period. Colorado won the previous two meetings this season in overtime.

Ben Meyers scored for the defending Stanley Cup champion Avalanche, who saw their five-game winning streak snapped.

Georgiev made 38 saves, including one on a breakaway by McDavid in the second period. Colorado remains in the driver's seat for the Central Division crown with two games to go. With a point Tuesday, the Avalanche also wrapped up home ice in the first round courtesy of Minnesota’s loss to Winnipeg earlier in the night.

“Good hockey game. Big point,” coach Jared Bednar said. “Good effort from our team again.”

This could be a possible matchup down the line in the postseason. The Oilers and Avalanche met last season in the Western Conference Finals, with Colorado sweeping Edmonton. But this is a different Oilers squad. For starters, they added Ekholm at the trade deadline in a deal with Nashville.

“It's obviously nice to put some doubt in their minds,” Ekholm said. “There’s a new story to be written.”

The Avalanche weathered a four-minute penalty in the second period when Devon Toews' stick caught Zach Hyman in the mouth and drew blood.

The game featured five 100-point scorers, marking the first time that’s happened in 37 years, according to NHL Stats.

It was Meyers kicking off the scoring early in the first period when he was credited for a goal that went in off a skate. Just 36 seconds later, Ekholm tied the game off a pass from Ryan McLeod, who was activated from the injured list before the game.

“It really felt like a playoff atmosphere,” Skinner said. “I thought we did a great job just the way we handled it.”

QUITE A SEASON

McDavid is attempting to become the first outright leader in goals, assists and points since Wayne Gretzky in 1986-87. Only eight times has the same player finished as the league’s outright leader in goals, assists and scoring — Gretzky (five times), Phil Esposito, Gordie Howe and Howie Morenz.

Count Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen as impressed by McDavid's offensive exploits.

“What he’s able to do, never seen anything like it,” Rantanen said. “I feel like he’s getting better, too. I don’t know if that’s possible, but I feel like he is.”

AROUND THE RINK

Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins played in his 800th NHL game. He became the fifth player in Oilers history to reach the mark for the franchise. ... Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar missed his fifth straight game with a lower body injury.

UP NEXT

Oilers: Finish the regular season Thursday by hosting San Jose.

Avalanche: Host Winnipeg on Thursday before closing out the regular season Friday at Nashville.

Regular Season Series

COL wins series 2-1

Scoring Summary

Goal 1st Period 4:52 Ben Meyers Goal (4) , assists: none
Goal 1st Period 5:28 Mattias Ekholm Goal (9) Slap Shot, assists: Ryan McLeod (12), Warren Foegele (15)
Goal 4th Period 1:50 Evan Bouchard Goal (7) Wrist Shot, assists: Connor McDavid (88), Leon Draisaitl (74)

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/edm.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originEDM https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/col.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originCOL
14 Blocked Shots 14
25 Hits 13
9 Takeaways 13
40 Shots 29
1 Power Play Goals 0
4 Power Play Opportunities 3
25.0 Power Play Percentage 0.0
0 Short Handed Goals 0
0 Shootout Goals 0
28 Faceoffs Won 28
50.0 Faceoff Win Percent 50.0
4 Giveaways 7
3 Total Penalties 3
6 Penalty Minutes 8
Colorado Avalanche Colorado Avalanche Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Logan O'Connor, RW Injured Reserve Mar 8
Gabriel Landeskog, LW Out Mar 8
Artturi Lehkonen, LW Out Mar 3
Edmonton Oilers Edmonton Oilers Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Adam Henrique, C Day-To-Day Mar 8
Mattias Janmark, C Injured Reserve Mar 6
Curtis Lazar, C Injured Reserve Mar 4

Game Information

Ball Arena

Location: Denver, CO
Attendance: 18,135 | Capacity:

2025-26 Pacific Division Standings

TEAM W L PTS OTL
Anaheim 35 25 73 3
Vegas 29 21 72 14
Edmonton 31 25 70 8
Seattle 29 24 67 9
San Jose 30 25 66 6
Los Angeles 26 23 66 14
Calgary 25 31 57 7
Vancouver 19 37 46 8

2025-26 Central Division Standings

TEAM W L PTS OTL
Colorado 43 10 95 9
Dallas 39 14 88 10
Minnesota 37 16 85 11
Utah 34 25 73 5
Nashville 28 27 64 8
Winnipeg 26 26 62 10
St. Louis 25 29 59 9
Chicago 24 29 59 11
Full Standings