Sensational 42-save effort by rookie Arturs Silovs, and two-goal efforts by Brock Boeser and Elias Lindholm seal the deal
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Respect is supposed to be a two-way street.
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However, Rick Tocchet knew it was a one-way highway of self-indulgence for Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on Friday and the same couldn’t occur Sunday. Why would they respect the opposition when they were having their way?
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“I think we respect them a little too much,” the Vancouver Canucks head coach said of the Edmonton Oilers’ high-octane dynamic duo before puck drop Sunday.
It was bold and it was tactful.
McDavid and Draisaitl combined for eight points (2-6) and nine shots Friday in a 4-3 overtime victory in Game 2. As much as it was about keeping them more under control in Game 3, it was more about the Canucks playing another strong road game and being opportunistic.
“It’s going to be high alert,” admitted Tocchet. “If you’re out there, you can’t panic. You can’t look to bench and change right away. You have to be able to defend and execute more.”
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And that’s exactly what they did Sunday in hanging on for a 4-3 victory at Rogers Place to take a 2-1 lead in the second round NHL playoff series. The Canucks are now 4-0 on the road in the post-season.
NEXT GAME
Round 2, Game 4, Stanley Cup Playoffs
Canucks vs. Oilers
When/Where: Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Rogers Place
Brock Boeser struck twice in the first period — he appeared to have his second career playoff hat trick in the same frame — but his initial effort was deflected by Elias Lindholm, who had his first career two-goal playoff game.
Boeser now has seven playoff goals and has struck nine times against the Oilers this season, including four times in the season opener. He has become a post-season hot shot.
“I feel pretty confident, but it comes with just trying to play the right way, and really focusing on the little details in our structure,” said Boeser. “I’m doing anything I can to help the team win. That McDavid line is tremendous and we like that challenge but we have to keep playing hard on them.”
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Sensational rookie stopper Arturs Silovs constantly frustrated the Oilers with a sharp, strong and often sparkling 42-save effort, which included sprawling for a last-second stop.
That’s the kind of respect nobody was really talking about in this series. They are now. The Canucks have earned it. They held McDavid and Draisaitl to two points (1-1) and eight shots Sunday as J.T. Miller’s line met the challenge.
Oilers starter Stuart Skinner was also pulled after two periods after allowing four goals on 15 shots and was replaced by Calvin Pickard. The Oilers have a problem in goal, the Canucks have an answer in Silovs.
“We just grinded it out,” Tocchet said post game. “They threw a lot at us and made a push and we did a nice job there at the end. Our penalty kill was good because that power play is dynamite. And we made the most of our chances.
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“We took away the middle of the ice and they had some stuff, but they (McDavid, Draisaitl) are world class, and there are some things you have to do. I thought we defended well.”
Here’s what else we learned as the Canucks struck twice on the power play.
Silovs hears the sweet sounds
Goaltenders will tell you shots that hit the post or crossbar mean they did their job.
If a shooter finds iron, it means they didn’t find the net, so it’s a checkmark on the report card.
However, for Silovs it wasn’t about those three clangs of metal, it was about his mettle being repeatedly tested to keep the Oilers at bay.
“I just felt confident,” said Silovs. “The guys have my back and I needed them today. They were blocking shots (22) against really-high scoring chances and that’s a big credit to them.”
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In the second period, Draisaitl hit the post and then sped through the neutral zone, only to be denied by a blocker save as the ice started to tilt.
“I was just waiting patiently for him to make the first move,” said Silovs. “I’m not really nervous. I have full confidence.”
The Canucks were outshot 14-4 in the frame and were outgunned 22-3 in the third period. The very busy night started early for Silovs.
He denied a pinching Bouchard. There was a save and sprawl. And then a double-clutch glove reach back in the second period to deny a deflected puck off the stick of Quinn Hughes to nearly trickle over the line. A review confirmed validity of acrobatic move.
“I was confident that wasn’t in and I got it before the goalline,” said Silovs. “I’m just basically playing my game and trusting my system. It’s nice to play in a hostile place and winning so many road games. It’s fun to win these kind of games.”
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And then on a late-period, power play flurry, Silovs was at his tracking best.
In the third period, Silovs maintained his cool demeanour on a five-shot Oilers power play. He found pucks, he smothered rebounds and held the fort before Bouchard made for a nail-biting finish with 1:16 left.
“I tried to get whistles for guys when you could see they were tired,” added Silovs. “Trying to get better matchups and the guys just played great.”
The only goals to beat Silovs were an Evander Kane shot deflecting off the stick of Tyler Myers and finding a wide-open Ekholm to open scoring. Draisaitl then scored from his sweet power play scoring spot in the second period, going down on one knee to pick the high, short-side corner.
“Arty is playing like it’s his net right now,” said Tocchet. “Tonight, he was excellent.”
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Boeser makes point at point
The winger’s first effort came on a play that was either by design or by circumstance.
A power play rotation found Boeser at the point while Hughes went down low on the left flank as J.T. Miller was on the right side. And with a screening net presence by Elias Pettersson and Lindholm, it resulted in getting a puck through and bodies in position for a screen or deflection. The Canucks got all three.
Boeser’s actual first goal came with something that was a big ask Sunday. Good puck rotation resulted in Miller finding Boeser all alone in the bumper to whip a wrist shot far side. He then maintained a down-low post off a turnover and turned a Pius Suter feed into a quick strike.
Boeser also made it more than just scoring. His line often drew the tough best-against-best matchup against the McDavid alignment.
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“That line dominated us in Game 2 at home and we looked at some film and know they’re probably two of the best players in the world,” said Boeser. “We knew they were going to push back and just believing in our system helped us get the job done.”
Miller may have set it best about the matchup and the wild ending.
“The last two minutes were crazy,” he said. “All you’re trying to do is defend the middle and block shots and bear down on your clears. You try not to give up the big ones (shots), but they (McDavid, Draisaitl) are going to ring up the shot clock. We defended harder and closed faster on them and had less separation.”
Lindholm was made for this
It started on the first shift when the centre threw a heavy check.
It continued with his deflection goal and then a highlight-reel effort to put the Canucks up 4-2 late in the second period. On the power play, he drove the slot lane, and when a Miller effort went off his skate, he showed the balance and skill to finish.
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It wasn’t just that.
Lindholm was acquired from the Calgary Flames to provide a better presence in the faceoff circle and to be a key cog on the first penalty-kill pairing. He has also drawn the tough matchups and is expected to chip in offensively.
He has five goals in nine playoff games. He got the winner Sunday. That speaks volumes.
OVERTIME — Linus Karlsson didn’t look out of place in his first playoff game on Elias Pettersson’s wing as a replacement for Nils Hoglander. He added size, a forechecking presence, and caused two turnovers. And Nils Aman, who played in the place of Phil Di Giuseppe, was effective on the penalty kill.
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People gather for a Vancouver Canucks "Playoffs in the Park" viewing party for the third game in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, in Vancouver, B.C., Sunday, May. 12, 2024.Photo by ETHAN CAIRNS /THE CANADIAN PRESS
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, right speaks at a Vancouver Canucks "Playoffs in the Park" viewing party with Councillor Mike Klassen, left, in Vancouver, B.C., Sunday, May. 12, 2024.Photo by ETHAN CAIRNS Ethan Cairns /THE CANADIAN PRESS
People watch the Vancouver Canucks play the Edmonton Oilers at a "Playoffs in the Park" viewing party for the third game in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, in Vancouver, B.C., Sunday, May. 12, 2024.Photo by ETHAN CAIRNS /THE CANADIAN PRESS
Vancouver Police officers watch over a crowd gathered to watch Vancouver Canucks play the Edmonton Oilers at a "Playoffs in the Park" viewing party for the third game in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, in Vancouver, B.C., Sunday, May. 12, 2024.Photo by ETHAN CAIRNS Ethan Cairns /THE CANADIAN PRESS
A crowd, gathered to watch Vancouver Canucks play the Edmonton Oilers at a "Playoffs in the Park" viewing party, is reflected in a fan's sunglasses in Vancouver, B.C., Sunday, May. 12, 2024.Photo by ETHAN CAIRNS Ethan Cairns /THE CANADIAN PRESS
A fan makes their way to the game before the Edmonton Oilers take on the Vancouver Canucks during NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Sunday May 12, 2024.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason FransonPhoto by JASON FRANSON Jason Franson /THE CANADIAN PRESS
Lexi Maynard, left and Makenzie Levesque show their support for the Edmonton Oilers as they take on the Vancouver Canucks during NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Sunday May 12, 2024.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason FransonPhoto by JASON FRANSON Jason Franson /THE CANADIAN PRESS
Fans wait outside before the Edmonton Oilers take on the Vancouver Canucks during NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Sunday May 12, 2024.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason FransonPhoto by JASON FRANSON Jason Franson /THE CANADIAN PRESS
Vancouver Canucks' Brock Boeser (6) celebrates a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during first period second-round NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Sunday May 12, 2024.Photo by JASON FRANSON /THE CANADIAN PRESS
Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers fall into the net on a loose puck during first period second-round NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Sunday May 12, 2024.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason FransonPhoto by JASON FRANSON Jason Franson /THE CANADIAN PRESS
EDMONTON, ALBERTA - MAY 12: Dakota Joshua #81 of the Vancouver Canucks battles for the puck against Cody Ceci #5 and Mattias Ekholm #14 of the Edmonton Oilers during the first period in Game Three of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on May 12, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta.Photo by Codie McLachlan /Getty Images
EDMONTON, ALBERTA - MAY 12: Evan Bouchard #2 of the Edmonton Oilers and J.T. Miller #9 of the Vancouver Canucks battle for the puck during the first period in Game Three of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on May 12, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta.Photo by Codie McLachlan /Getty Images
Brock Boeser (6) of the Vancouver Canucks scored a hat- trick agains the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place in Edmonton on May 12, 2024. Photos by Shaughn Butts-PostmediaPhoto by Shaughn Butts /Shaughn Butts
Dylan Holloway (55) of the Edmonton Oilers, checks Quinn Hughes (43) of the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Place in Edmonton on May 12, 2024. Photos by Shaughn Butts-PostmediaPhoto by Shaughn Butts /Shaughn Butts
Evander Kane (91) of the Edmonton Oilers, has his shot blocked by Connor Garland (8) of the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Place in Edmonton on May 12, 2024. Photos by Shaughn Butts-PostmediaPhoto by Shaughn Butts /Shaughn Butts
EDMONTON, ALBERTA - MAY 12: Brock Boeser #6 of the Vancouver Canucks celebrates with teammates after a hat trick during the first period against the Edmonton Oilers in Game Three of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on May 12, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta.Photo by Codie McLachlan /Getty Images
Ryan McLeod (71) and Mattias Ekholm (14) of the Edmonton Oilers, celebrate their first period goal against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Place in Edmonton on May 12, 2024. Photos by Shaughn Butts-PostmediaPhoto by Shaughn Butts /Shaughn Butts
Vancouver Canucks' Elias Pettersson (40), J.T. Miller (9), Brock Boeser (6) and Elias Lindholm (23) celebrate a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during first period NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Sunday May 12, 2024.Photo by JASON FRANSON /THE CANADIAN PRESS
EDMONTON, ALBERTA - MAY 12: Elias Lindholm #23 of the Vancouver Canucks celebrates with teammates after a goal during the second period against the Edmonton Oilers in Game Three of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on May 12, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta.Photo by Codie McLachlan /Getty Images
EDMONTON, ALBERTA - MAY 12: Quinn Hughes #43 of the Vancouver Canucks and Warren Foegele #37 of the Edmonton Oilers battle for the puck during the second period in Game Three of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on May 12, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta.Photo by Codie McLachlan /Getty Images
EDMONTON, ALBERTA - MAY 12: Evander Kane #91 of the Edmonton Oilers is checked by Nikita Zadorov #91 of the Vancouver Canucks during the second period in Game Three of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on May 12, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta.Photo by Codie McLachlan /Getty Images
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2024-05-13 06:17:28Z
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