-
Follow Us
On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
The Vancouver Canucks fell short in Game 7 of their Stanley Cup playoff second-round series, losing the final game at home to the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 last night. Vancouver, which had a 3-2 lead after a Game 5 victory, was forced to play Game 7 without its leading goalscorer, Brock Boeser.
Boeser, who scored a team-high 40 goals in the regular season and had 7 goals and was averaging a point per game in the postseason, was ruled out of the series’ grand finale due to a reported blood-clotting issue that insider Frank Seravalli had said the team’s medical staff discovered following Game 6. Seravalli reported prior to Game 7 that Boeser was put on blood-thining medication and would miss the remainder of the postseason no matter if Vancouver won or not.
After the loss, Canucks forward J.T. Miller lamented Boeser’s absence.
“I don’t feel sorry for us. I feel sorry for Brock,” Miller said (via ESPN’s Ryan S. Clark). “He’s worked his a– off all year long and had a career year. With how far he’s come as a player since I’ve been here. Being out there, blocking shots with the goalie pulled. He’s that type of player. For him not to be out there today must suck for him and I feel for him. It’s not about us right now. It’s about being there for him.”
Canucks lose Game 7 without Brock Boeser
With such a key player absent from the most important game of the season, the Vancouver Canucks needed others to step up, something defenseman Tyler Myers stressed when speaking about Brock Boeser’s medical issue.
“It’s always tough to hear,” Myers said. “He’s obviously bummed, but he’ll be fine and guys just have to step up. It’s part of its part of playoffs. You’re going to lose guys at different times for different reasons and it’s an opportunity. we have to look at it like an opportunity for other guys to step up and step into a role and be excited for it.”
Edmonton Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch also seemed a little worried about Boeser’s absence and how it could galvanize the Canucks.
“It’s amazing when you lose a player like that, your lineup is weaker just without a top player,” Knoblauch said. “I’ve seen it numerous times, but it’s amazing how guys step up. Everyone steps up, and collectively sometimes you’re just a better team. In the long term it’s not the recipe for success, but … we’re going to be ready. Obviously, [the Canucks] are missing a good player. We anticipate that’s going to happen, but we have to anticipate a team that’s going to be really stepping up their game.”
Unfortunately for the Canucks, it was not meant to be. Vancouver fell behind 3-0 and began to make a comeback with a pair of third-period goals, but time ran out on the Canucks and their season. Conor Garland and Filip Hronek scored the Canucks’ Game 7 goals.
The Canucks finished the regular season atop the Western Conference’s Pacific Division with 109 points, but in the postseason, the team was first dealt a huge blow when Vezina Trophy finalist Thatcher Demko sustained an injury in Game 1 of Vancouver’s first-round series vs. the Nashville Predators. Demko never returned during the playoffs, which forced the team to use Casey DeSmith and then Arturs Silovs, the latter of whom had played just nine NHL games before taking over the net for 10 postseason games.
The Oilers will now play the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Finals. Game 1 is set for Thursday.
More must-reads:
- Oilers crush Panthers in Game 4, stay alive in Stanley Cup Final
- Connor McDavid's history-making night helps Oilers stave off elimination
- Can you name every NHL player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy?
Breaking News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
