May 19th, 2024
Alex Rickman
Following a rough performance in game six against the Oilers, the Canucks are set for a win-or-go-home game on May 20th at Rogers Arena to determine who will face the Dallas Stars for the western conference championship. To make things more challenging for the Canucks, they will have to do this without star winger Brock Boeser, who will be sidelined due to a non-life-threatening blood clotting issue. So, with Edmonton carrying momentum following their game six triumph and the prospect of facing an elimination game without Brock Boeser, do the Canucks have a chance in game seven? In my opinion, they absolutely do, and here’s why.
Mentality
The Canucks have dealt with adversity throughout these playoffs, so why can’t they weather yet another storm and get through the Oilers? From the loss of both Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith to injuries to several improbable comebacks in big games, this team is not like the Canucks of years past who would fold like a cheap tent the moment they faced resistance. The 2023-24 Canucks are different to other teams the city of Vancouver has been given in recent history, and are not to be written off until the final horn sounds.
While Boeser’s condition, combined with the difficult circumstances of the game and the Canucks poor performance in game six, will create a tougher scenario than the Canucks have faced all season. However, the Canucks have passed every test they’ve faced this year with flying colours, so saying that a game seven victory in the face of adversity can’t happen would be grossly unfair to a team that has been defying the odds all season long.
Home Ice
Home ice has proven to be an edge this series, with each team having taken two of their three wins on home ice, and the Rogers Arena crowd will be as energetic as we’ve seen it in a while on Monday night. More than anything, this could help to energize Elias Pettersson, who played his best game of the postseason to date in game five with chants of “Let’s Go Petey” raining down from the Canucks faithful. The Rog has been one of the league’s loudest barns in the postseason, and fans keeping this up could end up being the difference between winning and losing on Monday.
Getting the second change will also help the Canucks get results, as we saw in game five when the Oilers' star power was largely kept quiet by a strong performance from the Canucks depth. More than ever, keeping Edmonton’s stars quiet and giving our stars a chance to shine will give the Canucks their best possible shot at victory, and home-ice advantage should factor into giving the Canucks an opportunity to get this done.
Playoff Magic
As it stands, without Brock Boeser especially, the Oilers have an edge over the Canucks on paper. However, game seven will not be played on paper, it’s going to be played on the ice, so the on-paper matchup between the two teams is more or less meaningless. In the postseason, and especially in a winner-take-all game, anything can happen regardless of who the favourite is, so rather than handing the Oilers the series before the puck has dropped, let’s all remember that they play the games for a reason.
The Canucks have their backs to the wall right now, but this is not the first time, and will not be the last time, that they have to face adversity on the long journey to the franchise's first Stanley Cup. If the Canucks see these difficult circumstance they have been handed and can come out on top, it will be yet another signal to the rest of the league that this is not a team that should be taken lightly, and that in the coming years, the Vancouver Canucks will be a problem for the rest of the NHL.
Rally for Brock
Thankfully, Brock Boeser’s blood clots are considered to be non-life-threatening, but by no means does that mean that this wouldn’t have been a scary diagnosis for Boeser and those around him. Brock’s condition has likely sent a wave of emotion throughout his teammates, not only as a result of the on-ice product he has given during the playoffs but out of fear for their friend's health as well. This emotion should come out when the puck drops for game seven, and the Canucks should be looking to go out there and get a big result for Boeser.
Monday is going to be a tense, emotional day for many in and around the Canucks organization and fanbase. Any game of this stature will bring a lot out of fans, players, and countless others who have skin in the game. This emotion should come out in the arena, not only from the players but from the fans cheering them on. No matter the result, the Canucks need to give everything they can to win this game, not only for themselves and for their fans, but for Brock Boeser as well.