GAME PREVIEW: Game 52/56 Edmonton Oilers vs. Vancouver Canucks

Edmonton Oilers (32-17-2, 2nd in North) vs

Vancouver Canucks (19-25-3, 7th in North)

06 May 2021

Sportsnet West

7 PM MST

TV: Sportsnet

Radio: 630 CHED

SB Nation Opponent: Nucks Misconduct

AND ANOTHER ONE

The Oilers picked up their second consecutive victory against the Canucks with a 4-1 effort on Tuesday night. Leon Draisaitl picked up a pair of goals, Darnell Nurse and Evan Bouchard each had one, and Connor McDavid ad.ded two assists on the quest to 100 points. The Oilers are now back home to take on the Canucks for a pair starting tonight, will we see more action from the Oilers forwards?

Let’s go to the tape.

THE OILERS ARE SAYING

Obviously two big points for us

Source

That’s Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl after Tuesday night’s 4-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks.

Leon finished with two goals, one on the power play. The Oilers power play picked up two in their win on Tuesday night. Two goals gives Leon 26 on the season for a total of 75 points. He’d be the clear leader in the NHL if it wasn’t for some guy named Connor McDavid.

By the time the regular season is over, Tuesday’s win might just end up as Edmonton padding their lead on second place. Two more points for the Oilers bring them a little bit closer to the Toronto Maple Leafs (they’re within six points right now with a game in hand). With five games remaining, Edmonton can finish the abbreviated season with a possible 76 points, the Leafs currently have 72 with four games to play.

THE CANUCKS ARE SAYING

“Obviously the last five minutes of the second cost us. A couple penalties, a couple turnovers, a missed change and it’s 3-1...I loved our third. If we had a little puck luck, we would have come back in the third.”

Source

That’s Canucks head coach Travis Green on his club’s performance in Tuesday’s 4-1 loss to the Oilers.

Only Brock Boeser was able to solve Mike Smith, and that was within the first minute of the game. Smith turned aside 28 straight Vancovuer shots afterwards to secure his 19th win of the season.

HAVE SOME OF THIS

• BOUCH IS LOOSE: I’d like to see some more Evan Bouchard. He’s going to be on this club’s back end next year for one of Tyson Barrie or Adam Larsson. He’s percolated enough. More please.
• BUT: I know Tippett is rotating some players in who haven’t gotten in for a while. William Lagesson got in for the first time in forever in Tuesday’s win, but that’s a position I don’t think I want to see a healthy Caleb Jones out of. DItto Ethan Bear on the right side.
• 93 POINTS: The count goes on. Connor McDavid now needs just seven points to hit 100 on the year. He’s got five games to do it in. He might have this locked up early next week if all goes well.
• POWER PLAY IS ON: Oilers power play hummed with a 2-for-3 success rate in Tuesday’s 4-1 win over the Canucks. Edmonton now leads the league with a 27.2% success rate while on the advantage.
• NET GAINS: Oilers are wise to get Mikko Koskinen (12-11-0 / 905 SV% / 2.99 GAA) back in net for either this game or their next game on Saturday. Mike Smith will be hunting for his 20th win on the season with his next start (19-6-2, .925 SV% / 2.25 GAA / 3 SO). Expect the Canucks to counter with Braden Holtby (7-9-2, .899 SV% / 3.34 GAA).

A win tonight coupled with a regulation Leafs loss against the Habs will bring the Oilers to within four points of Toronto. Stay tuned.