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It’s been a nightmare start to Round Two for Ian Cole.
The Vancouver Canucks leader in NHL playoffs games played was at fault for multiple goals in Game 1. In Game 2, he inadvertently redirected an Evan Bouchard shot past goaltender Arturs Silovs in overtime, giving the Edmonton Oilers a 4-3 overtime victory in Game 2.
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl dominated all night long. McDavid tied the game on a breakaway in the third period, and both superstars were on the ice for the overtime winner as well.
The series shifts back to Edmonton for Game 3, which takes place on Sunday evening at 6:30 pm PT.
Canucks’ Miller has the toughest job in hockey
For a long chunk of his tenure with the Canucks, one of J.T. Miller’s biggest flaws was his subpar defensive game.
It’s fair to say that he’s come a long ways.
In Game 1 of this series, Miller’s line with winger Pius Suter and Brock Boeser outplayed the McDavid line at even strength, controlling 62.5% of shot attempts when they were on the ice.
That was a valiant effort, but it was a different story in Game 2.
Oilers’ coach Kris Knoblauch made an adjustment prior to this contest, loading up his top line with McDavid, Draisaitl and Zach Hyman. That trio hemmed Miller’s line in the defensive zone all night long.
Hyman-McDavid-Draisaitl just looked unstoppable tonight. With them on the ice, EDM had:
32-7 shot attempts
18-1 scoring chances
81.8% of the xG share
2-0 in goals, including the OT game-winner (@NatStatTrick)— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) May 11, 2024
In fairness to Miller, he had some subtly strong defensive moments throughout the game. He blocked a point shot late in the third period that likely would have gone in otherwise. Miller also dove to break up a sure goal shortly thereafter his game-saving block.
However, this was a contest where McDavid and Draisaitl just took over. One game after McDavid was held without a shot for the first time in his postseason career, only a fool would have believed a repeat performance was in store.
More to come…