The final meeting between the Oilers and Canucks, at least in the regular season for now, didn’t end with a blowout like the first meeting or the third meeting. The first period was similar to the second meeting, where they looked like the better team on the ice with way more shots on goal. However, backup goaltender Casey DeSmith out-goalie Stuart Skinner, even though Skinner did have a good game statistically, and I don’t fault him for the goals against him.
At the time I’m typing up this article, I have no idea if Connor McDavid will play tonight or if he’ll feel up to playing Games 81 and 82 before the Playoffs start. I’m not worried about Edmonton’s last two losses. “They struggled without McDavid,” they also beat Vegas by four goals without McDavid. They look like their mindset is geared more towards Round 1 and beyond. I want McDavid to get 100 assists, I really do. But if continuing to sit out these last remaining games means he’s 100% injury-free and ready for a Cup Or Bust run, I’m more than okay with that. Unless he thinks he’s okay to play for just one measly assist before getting benched, he won’t make the same mistake he made by playing through a nagging injury. Knowing him, he’ll have another crack at 100 assists eventually.
At least Evander Kane has been picking it up production-wise recently. Tonight is the last home game of the 2024 regular season, and then we finish it all with two games on the road. The keys to the game are…
Shot Numbers Don’t Matter: When Edmonton was heavily outshooting Vancouver on Saturday night, it only took the Canucks one chance to score late in the first period and take all the momentum. The Oilers dealt with this issue back in October and November. It was the first game against this Sharks team that inspired Edmonton’s coaching change. The total shots on goal say a lot, but they don’t say everything.
One Cool(ey) Cat: In his first four NHL starts, 26-year-old goalie Devin Cooley got his first two career wins last week, stopping 83 of 86 shots. This is the right time of the year for San Jose to experiment with him. Will they play him again tonight? I would.
Lottery Dreams: The Oilers see this as a scheduled win, and the Sharks see it as another game to throw away in order to get a better chance at winning the Draft Lottery. No pro-athlete will agree to lose on purpose, but they’re on pace to finish dead last in order to draft first overall this summer.
