With the Vancouver Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers now tied in their best-of-seven series at 1 game apiece, the action shifts to Edmonton, setting the stage for an intense Game 3 at Rogers Place. Despite losing game 1 after a comeback by the Canucks, the Oilers responded with a dominant third period in game 2, leading to an overtime victory.
Physicality has emerged as a defining aspect of this series, with both teams unleashing their physical prowess on the ice. Among the players at the forefront of this physical battle is Canucks defenseman Nikita Zadorov, who has garnered attention, and perhaps ire, from Oilers fans following some controversial comments he made to reporters today.
“They have good fans. Die-hard fans,” Zadorov remarked. “I mean, there’s pretty much nothing else to do in that city except watch hockey.”
While Zadorov acknowledged positive experiences playing against the Oilers, his words about the city itself are likely to stir emotions among the Oilers faithful attending Game 3. It wouldn’t be surprising to hear a chorus of boos whenever he gains possession of the puck. However, Zadorov appears unfazed by the potential backlash, seemingly thriving in the role of the villain. Since joining the Canucks midseason, he has not only bolstered the team’s physical presence but has also contributed to the offensive side. 
Reflecting on the team’s performance in Game 2, Zadorov commented,
“I thought we were pretty good for two periods, but in the third, we backed up a bit. We ended up doing a lot of defending and didn’t have enough energy to transition to offense. It felt like we were just defending against defending, and we ended up with our backs against the wall for the third period. That’s something we definitely need to address and fix.”
Discussing his crucial sharp angle goal last night, Zadorov explained:
“I think the moment came when I was skating down the wall and didn’t find a passing lane to anyone. I noticed a little opening above your shoulder, so I decided to take the shot. I got a good shot off, and I feel like with some goalies, there are different techniques to play against them. With Saros, for example, there was a bit more space because he’s smaller. It’s all about finding those little openings, and it can vary depending on the goalie’s style and positioning.”
Game 3 goes down Sunday night at Rogers Place in Edmonton, with puck drop scheduled for 6:30 PM PST.