Evander Kane gets a lot of criticism from every corner of the hockey world, but Tuesday night, he showed just why he can be so valuable. His strong forecheck kept the puck in the zone and allowed Evan Bouchard to score with 38 seconds left in the third period. That goal gave the Edmonton Oilers a 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks.
Oilers’ forward Leon Draisaitl said the winning goal was the result of Evander Kane’s hard work. “He goes in, forechecks hard, and that goal is all Kaner.” Both Bouchard and Draisaitl had a goal and an assist.
The Canucks had tied the score with less than two minutes in the third period, draining the energy out of Rogers Centre in Edmonton before the winner.
Vancouver Ties the Game Late in the 3rd
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In the third, Vancouver cut the lead in half with a goal by Conor Garland, making it 2-1. He picked up a deflected puck in the high slot and beat Calvin Pickard.
With less than two minutes to play and their goaltender on the bench, Brock Boeser threw one at the net, and it deflected past Pickard to tie the score at 2.
Vancouver goalie Arturs Šilovs was spectacular again. The Canucks defense has been their identity all season, and it showed why tonight.
They were without defenseman Carson Soucy. He was suspended for game four after a cross-check he made on Oilers’ captain Connor McDavid. He was hit in the face after game 3 ended.
The Decision in Goal For The Oilers
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It may have been the most significant decision in the short head coaching career of Edmonton’s Kris Knoblauch. He benched Stuart Skinner for game four and went with his number two goaltender, Calvin Pickard. It was Pickard’s first-ever Stanley Cup Playoff start.
“The guys made it easy on me,” Pickard said. “we weren’t playing for overtime. We were going for it after the goal, so it’s a great goal, and we’re back in it.” The Oilers’ defense tied up the Canucks on Tuesday night; Vancouver only ended up with 21 shots and few good chances.
Edmonton Takes an Early Lead in Game 4
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The Edmonton power play continues to roll. Leon Draisaitl’s shot from the right side gave the Oilers a 1-0 lead in the first. Captain Connor McDavid danced through the center of the ice and found Draisaitl for the goal;
The game turned decidedly in Edmonton’s favor when the Oilers killed a double minor penalty near the end of the first period. Evander Kane’s high stick on Tyler Myers drew blood. But, The Canucks only managed only one shot on the power play and a total of four shots in the first period.
“It just wasn’t good.” Vancouver Canucks head coach Rich Tocchet said after the game. He was very critical of his team. “They know it, they didn’t work hard or manage the puck, it’s just not good enough.”
Tight Second Period Edmonton Extends its Lead
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Edmonton outplayed Vancouver through most of the first and second periods. Arturs Šilovs’s confidence is evident, and he had stopped everything for 19 and a half minutes. If not for Šilovs, the Canucks would have been down more than two goals.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored with 38 seconds left in the second, giving the Oilers a 2-0 lead. Tocchet said that goal was difficult for the team.
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Bradley Tachco is a career journalist. I spent 12+ years at CNN as a writer and producer. My sports are the NHL, MLB, and NFL. My goal: unique content. And my teams are the Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bills (yes, I’m a masochist), and the Los Angeles Dodgers. I have been a Dodgers fan since I was old enough to think. I have gone through decades of despair with all three franchises. You can follow Bradley on X @p09691
