GAME RECAP: Vancouver 6, Edmonton 3

I missed the first period of this one, but it doesn’t sound like much was missed other than six total goals.

Oilers lineup going into this game:

Draisaitl-McDavid-Puljujarvi
Kahun-RNH-Yamamoto
Neal-McLeod-Chiasson
Archibald-Khaira-P.Russell

Nurse-Barrie
Kulikov-Larsson
Jones-Bear

Koskinen
Smith

My takeaway here: What do Tyler Ennis and Evan Bouchard have to do to stay in the lineup? It is ludicrous that they don’t play every single game. Anyways.

First Period

Mikko Koskinen didn’t get the save on the first shot of the game.

And the second shot of the game also snuck by him. Tough break. Bad giveaway by Kulikov, who seems destined to give up one awful one per game.

Unfortunately, a near miss for Mikko on the third shot of the game. At least he got a piece, I guess. 3-0 Canucks.

The fourth shot of the game also found its way through, and that was the end of the night for #19 in the Oilers net. You have to feel for Mikko in this situation. Tough game going into the playoffs. 4-0 Canucks and Mike Smith comes in.

And the first set of good news for the Oilers, as Draisaitl fires home a powerplay marker from McDavid and Mike Smith.

Fun fact: Mike Smith has more points in this game than Mikko Koskinen has saves.

And the good vibes keep going, as Jesse Puljuljarvi also puts one by Demko towards the end of the period. 4-2 Canucks going into the intermission.

Second Period

The Oilers come out strong in the first half of the second, with a few good scoring chances. No luck on anything though.

After the officials miss a clear headshot on Chiasson from Travis Hamonic, Chiasson takes matters into his own hands and drops the mitts against the former Flame. The two seemed to patch things up in the penalty box however.

Tyler Graovac wins the faceoff, and then takes the puck below the goal line, and bounces a goal off the back of Mike Smith’s helmet. Seemed like bad luck, but maybe a great shot. 5-2 Canucks.

In retaliation to Darnell Nurse’s big hit, McEwen takes a double minor on a high stick on #25. Four minute powerplay results in nothing. What’s JP gotta do to get on the first or second PP unit? Nurse gives the powerplay right back though, as crosschecks, punches, slashes and roughs up McEwen in the TV timeout.

Score is 5-2, and the shots are 31-18 for the Oilers. Edmonton outshot Vancouver 17-9 in the second.

Third Period

A big scrap to start the period. Everyone knew it was coming. Nurse takes the extra penalty for cross checking.

Oilers back to the powerplay after Puljuljarvi draws one on Tyler Myers. Only one shot and no damage done.

Oilers swap penalties again, and Josh Archibald is to the box for tripping. Smith made one huge save to keep it 5-2, and the Canucks aren’t able to add to their lead. Just as the penalty ended... McDavid is sprung and Myers takes another penalty, and it’s a penalty shot for the captain. Connor makes a stunning move, but Demko makes a great save. Same score.

Well, Draisaitl gets his second of the night seconds after the penalty shot. Nurse finds him across the zone and he fires it home. 5-3. McDavid’s third point of the night, 96th point of the season.

And Boeser scores to make it 6-3. Sloppy play in the Oilers’ zone, and his shot squeezes by Smith. Coaching staff debated the challenge, but held off.

Game over. Rematch Saturday.