The Saturday night match-up between the Edmonton Oilers and the Vancouver Canucks started off as a fast-paced high-intensity game. With just over 10 minutes left in the first period Edmonton, who has the best powerplay in the league, moved on to the powerplay after a Tyler Myers hooking penalty. After being bailed out by a big-time save by Thatcher Demko the Canucks proceeded to take control of the powerplay by controlling the puck. However, despite the solid penalty kill the top Powerplay unit in the NHL was still able to find the back of the net with 1 second left to spare. The rest of the opening period looked more like a game of volleyball than hockey as both teams volleyed the puck from zone to zone with only minor pressure applied. Although Edmonton did have a slight upper hand registering 12 shots on goal compared to the Canucks 8.

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The second period brought some consistent offence from the Vancouver Canucks with 2 big shifts that created solid pressure on Edmonton’s goalie Mikko Koskinen. This pressure could have easily put the Canucks up a couple of goals or at least tied the game up if it wasn’t for some good saves and some unlucky bounces. However, the same goes for the opposite end of the rink, the Oilers created some great chance and if it wasn’t for the Canucks saving grace Thatcher Demko this game could have gotten completely out of hand. With just over 2 minutes left in the 2nd, OEL was sent to the box on a high-sticking penalty, a dangerous position for the Canucks to be in while already being down a goal. While Vancouver did a decent job at preventing the Oilers from setting up in the offensive zone, it’s still difficult to stop the best powerplay unit in the league. Top 3 Oiler goal scorer Leon Draisaitl put a one-timer into the back of the net. Putting the oilers up 2-0 going into the second intermission.  

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The storyline from the second period continued into the second. Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers throwing everything they have at Thatcher Demko while the netminder stands up strong and shuts out the Oilers for the rest of the game. However, the second-period storyline didn’t quite continue as much for the Canucks offensive unit, until in the final seconds of the game when Brock Boeser put in his second goal of the season to stop the Canucks from being shut out. The Canucks put together a semi-decent game, getting unlucky with some bounces that didn’t go their way and solid goaltending from Koskinen. The Canucks are now 0-3 at home with 4 games left in this home stint and if they are going to win a game they need their playmakers to start getting pucks into the back of the net.