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Oilers vs Canucks Round 2 Game 7 |
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It all comes down to this. Oilers. Canucks. Game 7. It doesn't get any closer than this as whoever wins this game will move on to the Western Conference Finals to take on the Dallas Stars.
No team has won two games in a row in this series. That is exactly what Edmonton will have to do, on the road in Vancouver tonight. The Canucks dominated Game 5 against a lacklustre Oilers team that looked gassed. In Game 6, both teams played a cautious first period before the Oilers turned on the gas and took the game over, winning 5-1, the only game in this series that has been decided by more than a single goal.
Stuart Skinner looked shaky in his first game since Game 3 but rallied and made a few key saves later in the game. You can bet that the Canucks will be looking to test him far more in Game 7 and will come out on the attack early. The Oilers meanwhile will need to continue to find ways to keep the Canucks to the outside and limit their second and third chances against. The one goal scored by the Canucks in Game 6 was a result of Hoglander being left alone to take multiple shots before eventually going in. That cannot happen tonight.
The big news tonight from the Canucks is the announcement that Brock Boeser will not be available for Game 7 due to a blood clot issue. Luckily it does not seem to be life threatening and he is expected to make a full recovery. Most Oilers fans are wishing the forward nothing but the best in his recovery. Shame on anyone who is saying otherwise.
For the Canucks, the loss of Boeser is a huge blow. Boeser leads the team in goals (7) and points (12) and has been dominant alongside centre J.T. Miller. The Canucks are going to need to make big adjustments to try and fill that hole. You can bet that each player on that team will be pushing to step up and try and earn a win for their teammate.
For the Oilers as a whole, this is make or break. Win, and we can discuss how Edmonton will stack up against the Stars. Lose and the summer will be spent discussing what massive changes need to occur. From the top of the lineup with McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman, and Bouchard, to the bottom of the lineup, each player needs to play their absolute hardest and most complete game tonight.
It's been a heck of a roller coaster of a season and Oilers fans are not ready for it to end.
Thanks for reading.