The Vancouver Canucks are hoping to gain a huge 2-0 series lead over the Edmonton Oilers. Game 2 has been a back-and-forth affair to this point. But Vancouver received a bit of a scare midway through the first period. Defenseman Tyler Myers delivered a hit to Edmonton forward Mattias Janmark but was shaken up.
Myers missed the remainder of the first period against the Oilers, as well. Furthermore, the veteran Canucks defender was not on the bench at the beginning of the second period. However, he has returned to the Vancouver bench. This is still a situation worth monitoring, but for now, the Canucks have all of their defenseman available to them.
Tyler Myers plays big role with Canucks
Tyler Myers has called Vancouver home for five seasons now. And the veteran rearguard has played a prominent role in the Canucks lineup every year. He saw his ice-time dip in 2023-24, but Myers is still a fixture on Vancouver’s top-four on the blueline. In the playoffs, the veteran has played nearly 20 minutes a game.
Myers is not the flashiest player on the ice. But he turns in a solid effort each and every night. He can also provide secondary offense from the point. In 2023-24, the veteran rearguard scored five goals and 29 points. This point total marked his highest offensive output since the 2018-19 season with the Winnipeg Jets.
The Canucks struggled with injuries in the first round against the Nashville Predators. Specifically, they had issues with their goalies remaining healthy. Both Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith went out with injuries in just the first four games of that matchup. Myers also missed time, though not through injury.
The veteran defenseman missed time after contracting the flu. He missed Game 2 of the series against Nashville, which Nashville won 4-1. Myers turned in a big performance defensively in the first game with five hits and three blocked shots. After his return, he played around 20 minutes a game in each contest except for Game 5.
In Game 1 against the Oilers, Tyler Myers played around 20 minutes once again. He, along with Filip Hronek, played more shifts than any dressed defenseman in that contest. Myers did not block any shots, but he did record three hits in Vancouver’s comeback win in Game 1.
More must-reads: