Goaltender Calvin Pickard held down the crease with 19 saves for the Oilers, picking up his first-career NHL playoff win in his first post-season start in the League after making only five professional appearances in the playoffs over the previous 12 years of his career prior to Tuesday — four in the AHL and his brief relief appearance in the third period of Game 3 this past weekend.
“I was trying to channel my emotions as much as I could,” Pickard said. “Obviously, it’s tough. It’s a high-stakes game and a huge game for us, but I felt comfortable right from the get-go. We had great energy early, the crowd was into it, and we played great all night. They got a couple of good bounces, but it didn’t deflate us and it was a huge goal at the end.”
“I don’t know if it’s quite sunk in yet,” Pickard added. “It’s a big win for us. It’s been a long time since making my debut and I haven’t gotten much playoff action at either level, but it’s an exciting opportunity for me. The guys played great in front of me and now it’s the best-of-three.”
Draisaitl and Bouchard each finished with a goal and assist to help deliver Edmonton’s response to Sunday’s defeat with their fourth straight victory in Game 4 over the past two postseasons, with Bouchard scoring his second goal of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs in the last minute after netting the overtime winner in Game 2 last Friday in Vancouver.
“When our backs are up against the wall, that’s when we show what we’re capable of,” Bouchard said. “The experience we’ve had the past couple of years helps in this situation, but we know what we have in [the dressing room]. We know it’s a special group, and we can’t let this slip.”
The series shifts back to Rogers Arena in Vancouver for Game 5 on Thursday night tied at two games apiece.