May 19, 2024 by Michael Hebert

The Edmonton Oilers faced a must-win Game 6 at home against their division rivals, the Vancouver Canucks, on Saturday. The Oilers made a couple of line changes, with Sam Carrick replacing Corey Perry, but the biggest change was starting Stuart Skinner between the pipes after sitting Games 4 and 5 after a shaky start to the series. The Oilers knew they needed to bring their best game against the Canucks, who had stifled their top lines in the previous game.

Of course, for most Oilers fans, all eyes were on Skinner’s performance early in the game and the tension was palpable whenever the Canucks entered the Oilers’ zone. However, it was the Oilers who struck first. Dylan Holloway’s brilliant effort to cut inside and neatly place the puck through Arturs Silovs’ five-hole to open the scoring had the fans on their feet. The lead was short-lived as Nils Hoglander tied it up less than two minutes later with the Canucks’ third shot on net. Those fans that were uneasy about Skinner starting, were touting the “I told you so” early.

In the end, the Oilers played a great team game. Despite their powerplay struggles, they limited the Canucks’ scoring chances and matched the Canucks with a pristine display on the penalty kill. Scoring contributions from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Evander Kane, Evan Bouchard, Zach Hyman, and Holloway led the Oilers to a 5-1 victory, forcing a Game 7. Notably, this was the first game in the series won by more than one goal.

Related: Game 5 Call Outs, Stand Outs, and Shoutouts

Tonight’s Call Outs, Stand Outs, and Shoutouts for Game 6:

Call Outs:

• The Oilers’ powerplay, usually a strong point, missed a lengthy 5-on-3 opportunity and several other chances, ending the night without a powerplay goal.

Stand Outs:

• Team Toughness: For the first time in the series, the Oilers outhit the Canucks, not giving them much time to move in Game 6.
• Connor McDavid: Though quiet by his standards in the series, McDavid showed an extra gear tonight, earning three assists and demonstrating why top players are expected to step up in crucial moments.
• Leon Draisaitl: Continuing his remarkable playoff performance, Draisaitl hit 100 career playoff points in record time, comparable only to legends Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. He extended his playoff point streak to 11 games.

Shout Outs:

• Kris Knoblauch: The coach made tough decisions, such as sitting veteran Perry and reinstating a struggling Skinner, which paid off and led the team to Game 7 against their division-leading rivals.
• Evan Bouchard: Despite muffing two shots early in the game, Bouchard found his shot at the right time, scoring to give the Oilers a crucial two-goal cushion.

Overall, the Oilers played one of their best games of the series. They’ll need to bring the same intensity in Game 7 to secure the series win and advance to the next round.

In closing, hockey is a great sport with passionate fans in both Edmonton and Vancouver. While we cherish the rivalry and the game, we must respect one another and the health of the players who provide us with such excitement and entertainment. The Heavy Hockey Network extends well wishes to Vancouver Canucks’ Brock Boeser, who is experiencing health issues. The game is better with him on the ice, and we sincerely wish him a speedy recovery.