Canucks erase 3-goal deficit to shock Oilers in game 1

If game one was a taste of what hockey fans can expect the rest of the way in this playoff series between the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers, we’re in for a wild ride.

Comebacks were a theme of the Canucks’ round one victory over the Nashville Predators and they began round two on the exact same note, erasing a three-goal deficit to stun the Oilers 5-4.

The @Canucks take Game 1 in electric fashion! 💪 #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/G8v5FG1ngT

— NHL (@NHL) May 9, 2024

Entering the series against Edmonton, Vancouver players and coaches talked about two things – staying out of the penalty box and avoiding turnovers.

The sentiment was nice, but less than a minute into the game the Canucks found themselves shorthanded after a too many men penalty and the Oilers capitalized.

After Zach Hyman put the visitors up early, a turnover led to another Oilers goal, this time from Mattias Ekholm, to extend the lead to 2-0.

That was the score after 20 minutes, but Vancouver brought the crowd back into the game in the first minute of the middle frame thanks to Dakota Joshua’s third goal of the playoffs.

It was a goal that saw the ice begin to tilt in the Canucks favour, and they piled it on trying to tie up the game.

But with just over seven minutes left in the period, against the run of play, the Oilers got back-to-back goals in less than a minute to extend the lead to three and take a stranglehold on the game.

The home crowd was left in a stunned silence, but Elias Lindholm gave them hope with a goal late in the frame to make it a 4-2 game heading into the third.

That’s when the true dramatics began, but it didn’t happen right away.

It took nearly half the period for the Canucks to beat Stuart Skinner again, this time on a deft tip from JT Miller that brought the belief back into Rogers Arena.

Then, a few minutes later, back-to-back goals from Nikita Zadorov and Conor Garland put Vancouver in front and blew the roof off the arena, sending the crowd into a joyous frenzy.

NIKITA ZADOROV AND CONOR GARLAND SCORE 39 SECONDS APART!! 🤯 #StanleyCup

The @Canucks have the lead!

🇺🇸: @espn ➡️ https://t.co/Pp9X7OGP3W
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1 pic.twitter.com/LDwm9TSdTy

— NHL (@NHL) May 9, 2024

Edmonton pulled Skinner in the final two minutes, pushing for an equalizer, but they were unable to beat Arturs Silovs and the final horn sounded on an improbable Canucks win.

After what can only be described as a hectic game one, the Canucks will take a 1-0 series lead into game two at home on Friday, hoping to hold onto home ice advantage before heading to Edmonton.

The Oilers, of course, will look to put the crushing defeat behind them and return home with an all-important split to what will surely be a raucous crowd at Rogers Place on Sunday.

Puck drop for game two is set for shortly after 7 pm on Friday from Rogers Arena in Vancouver.

Tonight's NHL playoff schedule features game three between the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes, as well as game two of the series between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche.