Oilers head to Vancouver for Game 1 against Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks won the Pacific Division by five points over the Edmonton Oilers and swept the regular-season series. Yet when they kick off their Western Conference semifinal series Wednesday in Vancouver, the Canucks are the underdogs.
"I love being doubted," said Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet, whose team beat the Nashville Predators in six games in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. "At the start of the year, if you asked, ‘Is Vancouver going to make the playoffs?' A lot of people said no or a bubble team. So, we were underdogs there. As the season went on, when are they going to fall? Now, same thing. ... I just think we kind of like that underdog role and I think players should embrace it."
The longtime division rivals -- whose battles date all the way back the 1979-80 season when the Oilers joined the NHL from the World Hockey Association -- are meeting in the playoffs for only the third time and first since 1992, ancient history.
The fact Vancouver won all four regular-season meetings is also ancient history. Three of those four games came during Edmonton's first 11 games, and before a coaching change and torrid run sent the Oilers rocketing up the standings.
The Canucks are well aware Edmonton put those struggles in the past, in big part due to improved defensive play on top of its potent attack. A huge reason the Oilers needed only five games to dispatch the Los Angeles Kings for the third consecutive season was their special teams play. Edmonton's power play scored nine time and was perfect on the penalty kill in the first round.
"You could talk about playing defense and shutting whoever down, but when we play Canucks hockey, we're in your face and play in their end more than in our own," forward J.T. Miller said. "You're not going to eliminate all the looks when you play a guy like Connor (McDavid), but we've proven this year when we focus and play our game and worry about ourselves, we can have the results. So, try to keep it five-on-five and bear down and win your one-on-one battles."
It is doubtful the Oilers will have as much special teams success against the Canucks, but those numbers are a cautionary tale for the opposition.
"I don't think we're going to have that same (special teams) advantage in this series," coach Kris Knoblauch said. "We're going to have (to get) more offense five-on-five. But as far as what we need to do to be successful is match their work ethic. They're a very hardworking team, but they have a lot of skill."
Even if the majority of their meetings this season were early in the campaign, the Oilers know what the Canucks can achieve when they are not defending well enough. That said, this year's playoffs have already shown how things can change from the regular season.
"Winnipeg beat up on Colorado all year long, and it's obviously different hockey in the playoffs," noted McDavid, who racked up 12 points in the first round. "Not saying it doesn't count for anything -- they played really well throughout the course of the year and beat us -- but we don't carry much stock going into it. I'm looking forward to the challenge, they're a great team and we're a good team, it'll be a good series."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Iran President Ebrahim Raisi still missing after helicopter accident in mountains
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country's foreign minister and other officials apparently crashed in the mountainous northwest reaches of Iran on Sunday, sparking a massive rescue operation in a fog-shrouded forest as the public was urged to pray.
What do we know so far about the mysterious crash of the helicopter carrying Iran's president?
The apparent crash of a helicopter carrying Iran's president and foreign minister on Sunday sent shock waves around the region.
'A horrible way to start the summer': 3 killed in serious boat crash on lake north of Kingston, Ont.
Three people were killed and five others were injured Saturday night following a boat crash on the Buck Bay area of Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said.
Walmart, Costco refusing to sign grocery code of conduct 'untenable': industry minister
Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says it's 'untenable' for 'smaller players' like Walmart and Costco to delay signing on to the government- and industry-led grocery code of conduct, now that industry giant Loblaw has agreed to do so.
Ottawa driver who appeared to be racing another vehicle on Highway 416 facing charges
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says an Ottawa driver is facing charges after being caught going 187 km/h on Highway 416.
Ex-partner charged with first-degree murder after 55-year-old woman killed in Montreal
Less than 24 hours after Montreal's 12th homicide investigation began, Montreal police confirmed that a 55-year-old woman's death in St. Michel is the island's 13th homicide. The woman's ex-spouse has been charged with first-degree murder.
VIDEO Born without front legs, this dog has been inspiring the world for 3 years: Dresden farm owner
A sanctuary dedicated to animals with disabilities is celebrating the third birthday of one of its most popular residents.
Canadian immigration asks medical worker fleeing Gaza if he treated Hamas fighters
Lawyers are questioning Canada’s approach to screening visa applications for people in Gaza with extended family in Canada after one applicant, a medical worker, was asked whether he had treated members of Hamas.
Diddy admits beating ex-girlfriend Cassie, says he's sorry, calls his actions 'inexcusable'
Sean 'Diddy' Combs admitted Sunday that he beat his ex-girlfriend in a hotel hallway in 2016 after CNN released video of the attack, saying in a video apology he was 'truly sorry' and his actions were 'inexcusable.'