In a thrilling game 3 of the best-of-seven series, the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 at Rogers Place on Sunday night.
Arturs Silovs made 42 saves for the Canucks, while Brock Boeser scored twice and Elias Lindholm added a goal and an assist. Evander Kane opened the scoring for the Oilers, but the Canucks replied with three goals in the first period, including two from Boeser. Leon Draisaitl brought the Oilers within a goal in the third, but Lindholm restored the Canucks’ two-goal lead on a power play late in the second. Kailer Yamamoto scored a late goal for the Oilers, but it was not enough to force overtime.
The Oilers had the early advantage in the game, scoring the opening goal on a power play just 2:57 into the first period. Evander Kane’s shot from the left wing was blocked, but the puck deflected to Mattias Ekholm, who buried his third of the series.
The Canucks tied it on a man advantage of their own when Elias Lindholm tipped Brock Boeser’s wrist shot past Stuart Skinner. A few minutes later, Boeser was left alone in the slot and wired in another one. After an egregious Oilers turnover, Boeser popped a shot inside the post to make it 3-1 Canucks after one.
The Oilers pulled within a goal 3:36 into the third when Leon Draisaitl banged a sharp angle one-timer off Arturs Silovs’ hip and in. The Canucks replied with a power play from Lindholm late in the second.
Calvin Pickard replaced Skinner in the Oilers goal to start the third. Skinner allowed four goals on 15 shots. With Pickard on the bench for an extra attacker, Hyman found a loose puck in the crease to bring the Oilers within one with 1:16 left.
The Oilers couldn’t find another goal despite outshooting the Canucks 22-3 in the third.
At the buzzer, McDavid and Carson Soucy exchanged slashes. McDavid was then cross-checked by Soucy and Nikita Zadorov, setting off a post-game scrum.
Game four is Tuesday at Rogers Place.
