Drama in the NHL playoffs! Edmonton won in the end and entered league history
May 15, 2024, 09:09 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
“Vancouver” was saved by playing with an empty goal, but did not even reach overtime.
The battle between Edmonton and Vancouver is the closest in the 2024 Stanley Cup conference semifinals. Both Canadian teams win in turns and exclusively with a minimal advantage on the scoreboard. Thus, the second match in the province of Alberta was marked by the success of the hosts, as well as an original plot.
For Edmonton everything was going very well until the third period. Goalkeeper Calvin Picard, who replaced Stuart Skinner, who stopped playing in the NHL in the second round of the playoffs, was heading for the shutout, having had all 13 shots on goal for Vancouver, while the opposing goal made his work slowly but surely. Job carried out the attack of the “tankers”.
León Draisaitl opened the scoring in the first half with a power play after an incredible performance by the best player on the planet.
Video rights belong to NHL Enterprises, LP. You can watch the video on the NHL website.
And towards the end of the second half, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins took advantage of his opportunity on a counterattack.
Video rights belong to NHL Enterprises, LP. You can watch the video on the NHL website.
It cannot be said that in the third period Vancouver unleashed a storm of attack against the hosts, but 2-0 is still too fragile a lead for hockey. The Canucks’ first goal was scored in the 47th minute: Connor Garland completed the positional attack with a precise shot.
Video rights belong to NHL Enterprises, LP. You can watch the video on the NHL website.
The “Orcas” took revenge at the end of regulation time, replacing Artur Shilov as the sixth fielder. Brock Boeser launched delicately from the service circle right at the foot of Dakota Joshua, who was on the spot; Picard had no chance to help.
Video rights belong to NHL Enterprises, LP. You can watch the video on the NHL website.
2:2 and, as they say, the psychological advantage is on Vancouver’s side. More or less everyone expected overtime in a game like this, but Edmonton found strength for the last attack in regulation time. And he achieve it! The Oilers’ top offensive defenseman, Evan Bouchard, gave the Oilers a decisive victory with a wrist shot. The “orcas” made a mistake in this episode: Boeser, who failed to get the puck out of the zone, Miller, who played impressively in defense, allowing a pass to Bouchard from behind the goal, and Shilov, who launched a shot that I don’t shoot that hard.
Video rights belong to NHL Enterprises, LP. You can watch the video on the NHL website.
Such a small drama, as a result of which Edmonton took the second victory of the series and tied the score in the confrontation. Now, in fact, everything will start again at the Vancouver site. The Oilers, by the way, made league history as the first team in the 21st century to win a playoff game in regulation after the opponent tied the score in the final two minutes of the third period. Previously, NHL clubs did not do such tricks until the last century.
