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Canucks score on themselves in crushing OT loss to Oilers in Game 2

Trevor Beggs
Trevor Beggs
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May 11 2024, 5:22 am
Canucks score on themselves in crushing OT loss to Oilers in Game 2
Bob Frid/USA TODAY Sports


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It’s been a nightmare start to Round 2 for Ian Cole.

The Vancouver Canucks leader in NHL playoffs games played was at fault for multiple goals in Game 1. In Game 2, his nightmare continued, as he inadvertently redirected an Evan Bouchard shot past Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs, giving the Edmonton Oilers a 4-3 overtime victory in Game 2.

“We always tell our D, get out of that blue paint,” Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet said post-game. “Bad things happen in there.”

Bad things seemed to happen to the Canucks whenever Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were on the ice in Game 2. McDavid tied the game on a breakaway in the third period, and both superstars were on the ice for the overtime winner as well.

The series shifts back to Edmonton for Game 3, which takes place on Sunday evening at 6:30 pm PT.

Canucks’ Miller has the toughest job in hockey

For a long chunk of his tenure with the Canucks, one of J.T. Miller’s biggest flaws was his subpar defensive game.

It’s fair to say that he’s come a long ways.

In Game 1 of this series, Miller’s line with winger Pius Suter and Brock Boeser outplayed the McDavid line at even strength, controlling 62.5% of shot attempts when they were on the ice.

That was a valiant effort, but it was a different story in Game 2.

Oilers’ coach Kris Knoblauch made an adjustment prior to this contest, loading up his top line with McDavid, Draisaitl and Zach Hyman. That trio hemmed Miller’s line in the defensive zone all night long.

In fairness to Miller, he had some subtly strong defensive moments throughout the game. He blocked a point shot late in the third period that likely would have gone in otherwise. Miller also dove to break up a sure goal shortly thereafter his game-saving block.

However, this was a contest where McDavid and Draisaitl just took over. One game after McDavid was held without a shot for the first time in his postseason career, only a fool would have believed a repeat performance was in store.

Canucks let down by the referees

NHL referee Kelly Sutherland may secretly be the Canucks’ nemesis.

The Richmond, B.C. native infamously gave Daniel Sedin a penalty in the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals right after he was repeatedly punched in the head by Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand.

In this game, Sutherland certainly wasn’t showing any B.C. bias.

Sutherland and his reffing partner, Eric Furlatt, missed a high-stick by McDavid on Quinn Hughes in the second period.

The high stick caused Hughes to have blood streaming down his face, and the Canucks captain was vocally angry with the refs, who sent him off of the ice to get repairs after they missed the call.

There were also a couple slew foots on Hughes that were missed as well.

“It’s a tough job,” Tocchet told reporters. “The only thing I don’t like are the slew foots. I like Kelly and Eric, it’s a tough job, maybe they missed some calls, but there were a couple slew foots on Huggy I didn’t like.”

Sutherland and Furlatt also missed Oilers forward Derek Ryan spearing Nils Höglander right in the crotch.

There was also an interference call on Pius Suter for a hit on McDavid, on a play where the Oilers star went down easily. Moments later, McDavid interfered with Nikita Zadorov, but there was no call on the play.

While the Canucks largely kept their mouths shut post game, fans had every right to be livid with the officials in this one.

The legend of Zadorov grows

For a moment, it looked like Zadorov was going to play hero for the Canucks yet again.

Late in the second period, the Russian defenceman came rushing down the left wing, and snapped a perfect wrist shot right over the shoulder of Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner.

He became the first Canucks defenceman since Kevin Bieksa to score playoff goals in back-to-back games.

Zadorov scored on almost the exact same play against the Nashville Predators in Round One as well.

He now has four goals in eight postseason games for the Canucks so far. While it once seemed like a longshot that the Canucks would re-sign him, it’s now increasingly becoming harder to imagine a world where Zadorov isn’t a member of the Canucks next season.

Pettersson finally gets on the board

Zadorov and Pettersson couldnt’ have had different starts to the postseason.

While Zadorov is reaching cult hero status, Pettersson visibly struggled through the Canucks first few postseason games.

That started to change at the end of Round One, but he’s started to come alive as the playoffs have progressed. And, he was finally rewarded with his first goal of the playoffs in Game 2.

While Pettersson’s goal was a welcome sight, at even-strength he was continuously let down by his linemates Höglander and Ilya Mikheyev, who have both combined for just a single assist through 16 postseason games thus far.

After seeing what McDavid and Draisaitl did tonight, you have to wonder if the Canucks counter with The Lotto Line on a more regular basis as this series continues.

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