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Canucks get blown out in playoff rematch against Oilers

Trevor Beggs
Trevor Beggs
|
Nov 10 2024, 5:42 am
Canucks get blown out in playoff rematch against Oilers
Bob Frid/Imagn Images

It was déjà vu for Vancouver Canucks fans at Rogers Arena on Saturday night.

Except this time, the final score was much, much worse.

The Canucks entered the third period trailing by one goal and were looking dangerous. Unfortunately they allowed four unanswered goals and lost 7-3 to the Edmonton Oilers.

“We had a good push in the second period,” Elias Pettersson told reporters postgame. “Got some life which set us up well for the third, but they came out harder and wanted it more.”

Up until the third period, the much-anticipated rematch against the Oilers played out much like Game 7 last spring.

The Oilers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second period, just like they did on May 20th, 2024. Goals from Elias Pettersson and Filip Hronek (who last scored in Game 7 against the Oilers) pulled the Canucks within one.

Vancouver looked like they had the momentum entering the third. Then, Tyler Myers took a tripping penalty 45 seconds into the period.

The Oilers didn’t score on that power play, but they seemingly didn’t give the puck back until they were up by five goals.

Pius Suter got one back with a power-play goal in the final minute, but by that point it was far too late.

Much like last spring, the Canucks had threatening moments but ended up with a paltry shot total (20). They also struggled against the Oilers mighty power play and gave up goals to Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid.

If there’s any solace for Canucks fans in this one, it’s that the regular season doesn’t mean all that much. The Canucks swept the regular season series against the Oilers last season, before bowing out against them in the playoffs.

Surely the Canucks would give up a couple of regular season losses to the Oilers if the trade-off was a playoff series victory over their division rivals in the spring of 2025.

Home-ice nightmares for Canucks

Last season, the Canucks had the fourth-best home ice record in the NHL.

That feels like a long time ago now.

The Canucks have just one win in six games (1-2-3) so far this season at Rogers Arena. They have a -11 goal differential in those six games.

That ghastly goal differential is largely due to the 6-0 drubbing at the hands of the New Jersey Devils, and tonight’s tough loss to the Oilers.

Thankfully, the Canucks have been buoyed by their sparkling road record. They are 6-1-0 on the road with a +11 goal differential.

That’s the good news. The bad news? Tonight was the start of a six-game homestand for the Canucks.

The homestand continues on Tuesday night against the Calgary Flames. Vancouver will also face the New York Islanders, Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, and New York Rangers before going back on the road.

Is Pettersson back?

There was one moment tonight that could have been a game-changer.

Early in the third period while the Canucks were shorthanded and still training by just a goal, McDavid received a cross-ice feed and was wide open at the back door.

It looked like a sure goal, until Pettersson tied up the reigning Conn Smythe winner.

That was just one play from Pettersson in a game where he was consistently noticeable. He also had his first multi-point game of the season, and got the Canucks back into the game just 18 seconds after they went down 3-0.

“Definitely I felt better personally, but I know I’m still a long way to go to be where I want to me,” Pettersson said.

Over the last eight games, Pettersson has an expected goals-for percentage of 66.8%. Only Quinn Hughes, who’s playing like a Hart Trophy candidate, has a better total among Canucks players over the same stretch. Pettersson’s expected goals total in this stretch is also the 10th-best mark in the NHL (minimum 50 even-strength minutes played).

The Canucks have been controlling play with Pettersson on the ice for a number of games now. Perhaps he’s finally starting to be rewarded for it.

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