Calvin Pickard earned a win in his first playoff start and Evan Bouchard netted the tiebreaking goal with 38.1 seconds remaining, as the Edmonton Oilers secured a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. The win at Rogers Place evened their Western Conference semifinal series at two games apiece.
Pickard, who had previously only seen mop-up duty in Game 3 of this series, stepped in for starting goalie Stuart Skinner and made 19 saves. His solid performance helped stabilize the Oilers, especially after their two-goal lead was erased in the third period.
Evan Bouchard and Leon Draisaitl each contributed a goal and an assist. Bouchard’s decisive goal came just in time, ensuring the Oilers regained momentum in the series. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also scored for Edmonton, providing an early boost for their team in a search for much needed win.
Despite a valiant comeback by the Canucks in the third period, the Oilers’ late-game resilience and Pickard’s steady goaltending were key to their victory. This sets up an exciting Game 5, as the Oilers and Canucks continue their battle for a spot in the conference finals.