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Locked in a 0-0 stalemate, Vancouver Canucks and Nashville Predators seemed destined for overtime before the game suddenly turned Vancouver’s way. Pius Suter scored in the game’s 59th minutes, then rookie netminder Arturs Silovs and a desperate band of penalty killers staved off a 6-on-4 powerplay that produced several great chances in the dying seconds of regulation. For the Preds, the dying seconds of their season.
With the 1-0 win in Music City, the Canucks closed out a 6-game series, earning the right to play the Edmonton Oilers in Round 2. Early indications suggest it will start on Tuesday night in Vancouver.
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It was an exciting finish to what had been less than a thrilling series between the two Western Conference rivals, in which the 2 clubs averaged just 45 shots per game and the home team won just once (Vancouver in Game 1). Indeed, the Canucks mustered just 121 shots through the entire 6 games, barely 20 per game. But that matters not, they did enough to win the series in their first postseason appearance since the bubble in Edmonton back in 2020. Congratulations to the Canucks and their fans.
Enough with the niceties.
A bit of a mixed result for fans of the Oilers, most of whom were surely hoping for at least a seventh game and/or several overtime periods, but so it is. A Nashville triumph would have meant home ice advantage but long flights, whereas Vancouver’s success means the Oil will start in enemy territory, but with shorter trips and revenge in their hearts.
It’s the third straight year the Oilers will start the second round on the road against the Pacific Division regular season champs after first dispatching the LA Kings in the 2v3 series. Previously Calgary Flames in 2022 (Edmonton in 5) and Vegas Golden Knights in 2023 (Vegas in 6). Now it’s Vancouver Canucks in 2024, outcome to be determined.
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Van City finished 5 points ahead of Edmonton during the regular season, entirely thanks to their 8 points to 0 domination of the season series. Timing was everything, as the teams met 3 times within the opening month of play, then not til the final Saturday of the campaign. In that opening month the Canucks were hot, the Oilers were not, and it showed on the scoreboard by scores of 8-1, 4-3, 6-2.. Then on that final weekend, the Oilers minus Connor McDavid came up just short, 3-1 with an empty net goal.
Make it a combined 21 goals to 7 in a one-side season series which as of this moment officially means diddly squat. Very confident Vancouver is not 3x as good as the Oilers. Are they better, period? That’s what the next couple of weeks are going to be all about.
More to come.
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