Edmonton Oilers Defeat the Vancouver Canucks, 4-3, advance to WCF

[Soundwave]

Bouchard is a good complimentary defenceman, he doesn’t tilt the ice when he’s on but he works well behind McDavid

He was the best player for either team in that series and outplayed Hughes. He's the main reason the Oilers are moving on, 5 goals in 7 games, 2 game winners off his stick, just give it a rest at this point. 1 goal and the primary assist on the game winner in a game 7.

He "tilted" the entire damn series.

 

[thekernel]

Except you're saying it was low percentage vs. low percentage. It might be a novel idea to try to get more high percentage chances.

If you're saying that "want" has nothing to do with it, I'd go back and take a look at Canucks players rushing plays when hits were coming. Key players weren't willing to take the hit to make the play. That's just one example.

Look at where the Oilers players were located on the ice for every goal against this entire series. Either in their goalie's eyes, or nowhere to be found at all. That's not a foundation for "winning hockey", that's shinny

 

[ScottishCanuck]

Oh well. The dream dies for another year.

Frustrating to get so close, especially after losing Demko. The Oilers carried the play for most of the series. Silovs isn’t to blame obviously, but being sub .900 you’d have to think that a healthy Demko in there wins us the series. That was ultimately the difference.

I’ll be interested to see the injury list as there are a few guys clearly banged up and playing on fumes.

The challenge for the Canucks is building on this and taking momentum into next year. They can do that or they can fade into obscurity like they did after the bubble. Big offseason coming up.

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

Bouchard is a good complimentary defenceman, he doesn’t tilt the ice when he’s on but he works well behind McDavid

Bouchard isn't the best skater, I'll give you that.

Draisaitl had an excellent series, but I still don't think he dominated the way Bouchard did. People can downplay his transition play as much as they want, but he has one of the best breakout passes in the league. He won't dazzle with some elite skating, but he was very good defensively all series and his breakout pass was always clean and on the money. Didn't have to spend much time in his own end because of it and that showed up big time in the shot metrics.

Bouchard was better defensively than I was expecting, as a Canucks fan I wish we had made it a bit tougher on him but I ragged on him in the LA series & he impressed me in this series.

I agree he's a high-end complimentary defenseman & his strengths are a perfect fit for that team. And I don't mean to knock Oilers fans in saying that. FWIW I think Boeser is also a high-end complementary player on our end.

Both are fantastic, but if their your best F/D... I don't think your a contender. But neither are, & both fit their teams very well.

 

[McFlyingV]

He was the best player for either team in that series and outplayed Hughes. He's the main reason the Oilers are moving on, 5 goals in 7 games, 2 game winners off his stick, just give it a rest at this point. 1 goal and the primary assist on the game winner in a game 7.

He "tilted" the entire damn series.

Oilers outshot Van 70-28 and outscored them 10-4 when Bouchard was on the ice 5v5. Thats the definition of tilting a series.

 

[eviohh26]

Vancouver does not suck and they have a lot to be proud of. They were very close to advancing past a prime McDavid.

Dallas isn’t as scary as most make them out to be…

Dallas is complete top to bottom . They have size and speed. They are the cream of the crop in the west this year. Will be a massive hill for the Oilers to climb.

 

[Old Boys Club]

I think Zadorov and Joshua are going to get very overpaid this offseason.

 

[Grifter3511]

You mean their 40 goal scoring winger that was playing with a blood clot in game 6 and didn't play game 7

Omg man. Do you think boeser is enough winger depth? We have great centers and we have one legitimate top 6 winger. This isn't about boeser.

Are u satisfied with petey playing with suter and mikheyev or hoglander?

 

[iCanada]

Bouchard is a good complimentary defenceman, he doesn’t tilt the ice when he’s on but he works well behind McDavid

Statistically, Evan Bouchard tilts the ice about as hard as you can.

 

[OilerTitanFan]

Look at where the Oilers players were located on the ice for every goal against this entire series. Either in their goalie's eyes, or nowhere to be found at all. That's not a foundation for "winning hockey", that's shinny

Sounds like the oilers lost with a "losing hockey" foundation.

 

[Bertuzzzi44]

Oilers barely beat an injury riddled Canucks team playing their 3rd string goaltender and without their leading scorer. Would’ve been nice to play Dallas with Thatcher Demko & Brock Boeser back to start game 1, Canuck Luck I guess.

 

[Dirty Dan]

Whatever the Oilers are doing when they are up in the third isn't great. Should have won game 1 and not looked back

Their PP will need to be almost perfect if they run into Dallas / NY next.

 

[eviohh26]

I think Zadorov and Joshua are going to get very overpaid this offseason.

Depends what Joshua gets. I think he has earned his payday. Zadorov at 6Milly is too much for my liking.

 

[GhostfaceWu]

Shouldn't you have been on the golf course for the last few weeks? The Leafs have.

Should have lost the series so we could save a couple hundred thousand next year lol the education system at work.

 

[Nostradumbass]

Oh well. The dream dies for another year.

Frustrating to get so close, especially after losing Demko. The Oilers carried the play for most of the series. Silovs isn’t to blame obviously, but being sub .900 you’d have to think that a healthy Demko in there wins us the series. That was ultimately the difference.

I’ll be interested to see the injury list as there are a few guys clearly banged up and playing on fumes.

The challenge for the Canucks is building on this and taking momentum into next year. They can do that or they can fade into obscurity like they did after the bubble. Big offseason coming up.

I thought Silovs played incredibly well despite his SV%. I'd take him on my team in a heartbeat.

 

[jackjohnson]

They had to get past Dallas and they couldn’t even do that ! The Oilers would have beaten the Avs too because I thought the Avs could be had in the playoffs this year and they were. Oilers in 7 over Dallas !!

Oilers will ve swept. Dallas actually has their number 1 goalie healthy, not to mention depth everywhere.

 

[eviohh26]

Whatever the Oilers are doing when they are up in the third isn't great. Should have won game 1 and not looked back

Their PP will need to be better if they run into Dallas / NY next.

To be fair the 3rd period has been the Canucks best period all year.

 

[Bank Shot]

Oilers barely beat an injury riddled Canucks team playing their 3rd string goaltender and without their leading scorer. Would’ve been nice to play Dallas with Thatcher Demko & Brock Boeser back to start game 1, Canuck Luck I guess.

Canucks had as much good luck this season as any team in the league.

Bad luck.

 

[Catamo]

Oilers were fortunate the Canucks had 2 of their best players out.

 

[Akrapovince]

Same, Looks like I lost my bet, need to have a Swiss donair

Sounds like you won a bet.

 

[VainGretzky]

Canucks playoff slogan next year should be I can't drive 55

 

[Ninety7]

No disdain for any Canucks players except for Zadorov. Guy can get bent

Never a good look taking shots at another city, and he seems to always be running his mouth.

 

[Boxscore]

Bouchard is a good complimentary defenceman, he doesn’t tilt the ice when he’s on but he works well behind McDavid

Wow, I don't think this is a fair take based on this series alone. The kid had FIVE goals in 7 games... from the D position. He was absolutely dominant, and to be perfectly honest, was the scariest Oiler on the ice most games... especially on the PP. He was a terror.

 

[syz]

8 months of Canucks fans swearing that the Oilers' injuries and puck luck to start the year didn't matter and look where we are now...

 

[Three On Zero]

Bouchard was better defensively than I was expecting, as a Canucks fan I wish we had made it a bit tougher on him but I ragged on him in the LA series & he impressed me in this series.

I agree he's a high-end complimentary defenseman & his strengths are a perfect fit for that team. And I don't mean to knock Oilers fans in saying that. FWIW I think Boeser is also a high-end complementary player on our end.

Both are fantastic, but if their your best F/D... I don't think your a contender. But neither are, & both fit their teams very well.

Has a good shot and Ekholm has done wonders for his defensive game. Lets him play a little looser knowing he has a good defensive guy beside him