Canucks Vs. Oilers Post Game – Boeser Shoots Down Oilers; Pettersson > McDavid

It was the first meeting of the season between the Canucks and the Oilers and early on it felt like a playoff game. Game flow was back and forth, chances were close but it was the talk about Elias Pettersson and Connor McDavid that dominated. Who would ultimately be named the best player after their first meeting?

McDavid did his best to get on the scoresheet and managed to get an assist but Travis Green line matched him with Bo Horvat and when the smoke cleared the Canucks were the ones that needed to be matched. Pettersson continued his torrid point streak with a PPG, Brock Boeser had three points and the Canucks took down the Oilers in stupendous fashion 4-2.

Let’s find out how they got there.

Jacob Markstrom gets his second-straight start and Mikko Koskinen occupies the Oilers net. An early shot of Connor McDavid shows his awkward looking beard almost resembling an elf, which is fitting because it’s Christmas time. Good pace to the game in the first six minutes, pretty much run time.

Canucks weather the storm at the midway point of the first and send Loui Eriksson the other way. As per usual, he would not score. Jesse Puljujarvi takes down the inevitable Rookie of the Year, Elias Pettersson, and puts the Oilers on the PK.

Vancouver starts the 2nd unit first, nothing. Puts the 1st unit on and again, nothing. Jacob Markstrom continues to shine and is the story for the better part of the first period. Also, Connor McDavid is a pretty good hockey athlete.

No score after one.

SHOTS: PETTERSSONS 7 – MCDAVIDS 10

Once again, Eriksson gets an early chance but isn’t able to bury the shot. Canucks are hemmed in their own zone, Pettersson makes a mistake* and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins gets an early Christmas gift:

Oilers take the lead 1-0.

Canucks continue to work on their PK after Alex Edler goes off for high-sticking. Vancouver out duels the Edmonton hockey club and keeps it a 1-0 game. Bo Horvat and Antoine Roussel get back-to-back high danger chances but neither can capitalize. Canucks then are held against their will, something the NHL says is an infraction and the Canucks go on the power play.

What happens next will amaze you:

Yup, an Edler blast ties it up. 1-1.

Tyler Motte gets creamed in the offensive zone by Milan Lucic which in turn leads to a 2 on 1 the other way, Troy Stecher helps Jacob Markstrom keep the puck out.

Josh Leivo helps Kevin Gravel lift the puck over the glass and once again the Canucks go on the PP.

Brock Boeser takes a pass from Ben Hutton but Markstrom initiates the play and badda bing badda boom:

2-1 good guys.

Edmonton loses their abacus and takes a too many men penalty. Elias Pettersson has moves for days to set up his team but Vancouver would waste away another chance to bury the Oilers for good.

Nothing more in the middle frame and the Canucks hold court into the third.

SHOTS: VAN 22 – EDM 14

A bit of back and forth to start the final frame and the Oilers once again delay the game, it’s Larsson for Hall that goes to the box!!

 

Folks, Elias Pettersson:

Canucks now 3/5 on the PP tonight. Brock helped too. Pettersson also extends his point streak to seven games and is sniffing Pavel Bure’s rookie streak. 3-1 Canucks.

Markstrom hasn’t been tested much in this frame but he’s solid when challenged.

Tyler Motte gets a random 2 on 1, shoots but gets nothing. Canucks continue to press, Oilers look like they’re hoping to keep it close but they’re playing not to lose at this point instead of playing to win. Big difference.

A mad scramble puts Koskinen on his back, hack after hack in tight but Bo Horvat can’t put it in. Connor McDavid has been a non-factor for the most part with Travis Green putting Horvat’s line on #97.

But wouldn’t you know it, that doesn’t matter and Alex Chiasson takes a McDavid feed and a bad thing happens:

3-2 Canucks.

Oilers making things feel uncomfortable for Vancouver fans and not because they’re bragging about how many Cups they won in the ’80s, no one cares.

Side note: Mikko Koskinen wears #19. Has to be the most bizarre goalie number, right?

Oilers pull Koskinen after a timeout and the future Captain, Bo Horvat, is the beneficiary of an empty net goal. He skipped it down the ice as he did at the river as a kid. OK, that was pretty bad.

CANUCKS WIN!!! Pettersson with the GWG

FINAL SCORE: VAN 4 – EDM 2

SHOTS: VAN 30 – EDM 22

PP: VAN 3/5 – EDM 0/1

 

A rare night where the inkblot looks to be in favour of the Canucks. Vancouver still can’t get the dirty goals but the shots are there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Markus Granlund didn’t get much ice at 5v5 and that may have a lot to do with the matchup game but he stands out like a sore thumb compared to the rest of centers.