The Edmonton Oilers withheld a late rally from the Vancouver Canucks to score a 3-2 win in the seventh game of their second round NHL playoff series Monday night in Vancouver.
The Oilers advance to play the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final. Game 1 is Thursday in Dallas (You can listen to the game live on 630 CHED, beginning with The Faceoff Show at 4:30 p.m. The actual game starts at 6:30 p.m.)
“We made it close, but overall, besides the last 10 minutes, I could not be prouder of our boys,” said Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch.
Edmonton defenceman Brett Kulak had a great look off a long rebound in the game’s second minute, but Vancouver goaltender Arturs Silovs moved across to make a desperation save.
With 3:46 to go in the first, Oilers forward Ryan McLeod was assessed a double-minor for high-sticking. The Oilers’ penalty kill held strong and had the best chance when Connor Brown broke away shorthanded. Silovs turned away Brown’s wrister to keep it scoreless after one, with the Oilers holding a 13-2 advantage in shots on goal.
The Oilers broke through 1:16 into the second when Cody Ceci whizzed a point shot past Silovs.
Less than five minutes later, Zach Hyman tipped Evan Bouchard’s wrister to make it 2-0 Oilers. It was Hyman’s eleventh goal of the playoffs. On a power play with 4:38 to go in the second, Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins found a rebound off the backboards and crammed a shot behind Silovs.
“I thought he had his best game last game, and then he just one-upped it this game,” Oilers winger Zach Hyman said of Nugent-Hopkins’ performance after the game.
“He touches every facet of the game, so we are lucky to have him.”
McLeod fanned on a clearing pass 8:33 in the third, giving Canucks forward Conor Garland an open look. He beat Oilers netminder Stuart Skinner blocker side to give the Canucks life.
With 4:36 on the clock, Canucks defenceman Filip Hronek drilled in a long slapper to pull Vancouver within one.
The Canucks pulled Silovs for an extra attacker with two minutes left, but the Oilers held them at bay.
“I think the way we played in the last two and a half minutes was just amazing,” Skinner said.
“The guys just kept blocking shots and kept on getting the pucks out. I was very impressed with how we played tonight.”
Skinner earned the win with 15 saves. Silovs made 26 stops.
Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and an assist.
Canucks sniper Brock Boeser missed the game with a blood-clotting issue.
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