The Vancouver Canucks defeated the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 in Thursday night’s Game 5 match, bringing the team just one victory away from advancing to the Western Conference finals in the NHL playoffs.
Canucks forward J.T. Miller scored the game-winning goal with just 31.9 seconds left in the third period.
Carson Soucy and Phillip Di Giuseppe also scored goals for the Canucks earlier in the game.
Tonight’s win for Vancouver brings the series to 3-2. The Edmonton Oilers are facing elimination if they lose Game 6 on Saturday, which will take place in Edmonton.
The series has been an emotional roller coaster so far with each team taking a split on the road.
Speaking on Wednesday, Vancouver head coach Rick Tocchet was not impressed with some of his players, calling some “passengers” for their effort in Game 4.
Tocchet said all eyes needed to be looking forward and Game 5 would be a new opportunity to bury some of the past narratives.
“(It’s) a new game … you can be a hero. Not just saying this about Petey, it can be anybody,” he said. “Anybody that plays well and we win, usually you don’t think about previous games.”
Edmonton had tied the series on Tuesday with a 3-2 victory in Game 4 at home.
Both teams have kept it close, with neither side winning by more than one goal and Game 2 having gone to overtime.
Both teams are also looking to unlock some offence to make their way to the Western Conference finals.
Canucks forward Elias Petterrson has not performed the way the team, and himself, have hoped for so far. He spoke to the media on Wednesday.
“(Rick) sent a message to the group that we all need to be better,” he said. “And, obviously myself, I know I can be better. I am trying out there, might not be going the best way right now but I am trying to win.”
If the Canucks make it to the Western Conference finals, they will face the winner of the ongoing series between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche.
— With files from Canadian Press