Published May 19, 2024<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 2\u00a0hours ago<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.<\/p>\n The<\/p>\n Edmonton Oilers versus the Vancouver Canucks<\/p>\n is getting what it, and everyone watching it, deserves.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n A Game 7.<\/p>\n This compelling theatre of epic momentum shifts, dramatic mood swings and last-second heroics all comes down to one final act Monday evening in Vancouver. And despite six games worth of hard evidence, we have no way of knowing how this thing is going to turn out.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n or<\/span><\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The two best teams in Canada are answering each other punch for punch<\/p>\n After Vancouver held Edmonton without a shot for over 20 minutes to win Game 1, the Oilers respond by outshooting Vancouver 15-2 in the third period to win Game 2.<\/p>\n After Evan Bouchard scored with 39 seconds left to win Game 4, J.T. Miller responded by scoring with 33 seconds left to win Game 5.<\/p>\n After five one-goal games there was nothing to choose between them.<\/p>\n And then came<\/p>\n Game 6<\/p>\n .<\/p>\n The Oilers seemed on the verge of a night like that in Game 3, where they outshot Vancouver 45-18, hit four goal posts, and somehow lost 4-3. This time they connected on their chances and ran Vancouver out of the rink.<\/p>\n Have they finally broken through?<\/p>\n After five games of missing chances, hitting iron and being stymied by a Cinderella netminder, is Edmonton ready to pull away for good?<\/p>\n Has the law of averages caught up with a Vancouver team that\u2019s been outshot 174 to 132?<\/p>\n Or was that just human nature talking?<\/p>\n While Edmonton was fighting for survival at home in Game 6, the Canucks knew they had a Game 7 insurance policy in their back pocket. They knew they had one more life to give.<\/p>\n Headline News<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n That scenario often makes a big difference. Anybody remember the 2006 Stanley Cup Final against Carolina? They Oilers were trailing the series 3-1 and won Game 5 in Carolina and trounced the Hurricanes 4-0 in Game 6 at Rexall Place, holding the visitors to seven shots through 40 minutes.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t even close. Edmonton had finally broken through.<\/p>\n Then along came Game 7 and the rest is misery.<\/p>\n So as much as some people might like to think Vancouver\u2019s carriage has turned into a pumpkin, dominating Game 6 might not mean anything in a fresh slate Game 7.<\/p>\n \u201cWe all are pumped about the way we played, but we need to have short memories,\u201d said Dylan Holloway, the dynamic young winger who arrived just in time to fill out Edmonton\u2019s top six.<\/p>\n \u201cMomentum doesn\u2019t really carry over from game to game, we\u2019ve got to focus on the next game, get off to a good start and just play the way we can.\u201d<\/p>\n The Canucks have had their moments, too, after all. They shut Edmonton down in Game 1 and looked great in controlling the Oilers in Game 5. There is no reason to think they can\u2019t get there again.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cI think the belief is in this room,\u201d said Vancouver\u2019s Brock Boeser. \u201cObviously, we can play better and we all know that. We\u2019ll regroup and look at what we can do better. It\u2019s just going to come down to who wants it more next game.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo one said it was going to be easy, but we\u2019ll get another chance on Monday to win one game to make the conference final,\u201d added Elias Pettersson. \u201cI\u2019m excited for it. I know the barn\u2019s going to be loud, the fans are going to be into it and those are the type of games you want to play.\u201d<\/p>\n For the first time, Edmonton is going to see what Vancouver looks like when they\u2019re facing elimination and they know full well what kind of boost that\u2019s going to provide.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure Vancouver doesn\u2019t feel great about their game (Saturday) and they\u2019ll be better for Game 7, just like we didn\u2019t like our Game 5 and we were better in Game 6,\u201d said Connor McDavid. \u201cI expect both teams to elevate heading into a big Game 7 obviously.\u201d<\/p>\n We\u2019ve seen the Oilers in this situation many times, whether it was saving their season in November or putting together a 16-game winning streak in January. This team can look underwhelming at times but when it really matters they are wicked good.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n They will need to get to that level again because a 3-7 record against Vancouver this year tells you it\u2019s going to be a hard night.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of guys have been in this situation before and you have to ride the highs and lows of the playoffs and just try and stay as even-keeled as possible,\u201d said defenceman Darnell Nurse. \u201cWe gave ourselves the chance to play one more game and we have to bring the same mindset to Vancouver on Monday.\u201d<\/p>\n Canucks coach Rick Tocchet summed it up best. His advice to the Canucks applies to both teams.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a Game 7, people would kill to be in this situation right now and we\u2019ve got to make sure that we act like we want to be in that situation,\u201d he said. \u201cPlay like you want to be a hero on Monday, that\u2019s what I think.\u201d<\/p>\n rtychkowski@postmedia.com<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Share this article in your social network<\/p>\n![\"Oilers\"](\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/20240518db008.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&h=216&sig=bTuUpTQIsxNXN6tyUpGpyg\" "\\"\\"")
The Edmonton Oilers’ Derek Ryan (10) battles the Vancouver Canucks’ Pius Suter (24) during first period NHL playoff action at Rogers Place, in Edmonton Saturday May 18, 2024. Photo by David Bloom<\/span> Photo by David Bloom<\/span> \/David Bloom\/Postmedia<\/span><\/p>\nArticle content<\/h2>\n
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