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Canucks must BԪַwant that big momentBԪַ heading into decisive Game 7: coach

Edmonton outshot Vancouver 27-15 during their win Saturday
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Vancouver CanucksBԪַ Brock Boeser (6) and Edmonton OilersBԪַ Evan Bouchard (2) battle for the puck during first period second-round NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Saturday May 18, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

All season long, the Vancouver Canucks have preached resilience.

Now comes the ultimate test.

After an ugly 5-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, the Canucks need to once again showcase their ability to bounce back as the two teams prepare for a decisive Game 7 Monday in the second-round playoff series.

The two sides are now tied at 3-3 in the best-of-seven matchup.

BԪַOur job right now is we got to flush this game,BԪַ said head coach Rick Tocchet. BԪַObviously some guys know that they need to play better. And youBԪַve got 48 hours to get your energy back. ThatBԪַs just the way it is.

BԪַItBԪַs a Game 7. People would kill to be in this situation right now. And weBԪַve got to act like we want to be in that situation.BԪַ

Closing out a series against the Oilers was never going to be easy, said Canucks right-winger Brock Boeser. It took Vancouver two chances to eliminate the Nashville Predators in round one, he noted.

BԪַI think we knew this (second round) was going to be a hard series from the start and itBԪַs gone back and forth,BԪַ he said. BԪַI think thatBԪַs the beauty of playoff hockey. WeBԪַve got to forget about this one, focus on playing better next game and bringing that effort.BԪַ

Vancouver hasnBԪַt lost back-to-back games since March 25 and 28, but the stakes havenBԪַt been higher this season either.

MondayBԪַs winner will face the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference final. The loser will be eliminated from the playoffs.

Vancouver needs to treat Game 7 like any other game and as a great opportunity, said Canucks captain Quinn Hughes.

BԪַIf you told us weBԪַd have this opportunity in September, we probably would have taken it. We probably would have taken it three or four weeks ago as well,BԪַ he said. BԪַWeBԪַll be excited.BԪַ

The Canucks know they had room for improvement Saturday.

Edmonton outshot Vancouver 27-15, and the Oilers blocked another 12 attempts. The Canucks also had 25 shots miss the net.

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BԪַI mean, itBԪַs not a recipe for success,BԪַ Elias Pettersson said of his teamBԪַs shot total. BԪַObviously weBԪַve won games when we have not many shots. But it is what it is. They won today. ItBԪַs a seven-game series for a reason. IBԪַll focus on that.BԪַ

The Oilers also smothered the CanucksBԪַ power play once again, with Vancouver going 0-for-4 with the man advantage. The Canucks havenBԪַt scored on their last 12 power plays going back to Game 3.

BԪַObviously not good enough,BԪַ Hughes said. BԪַAnd weBԪַre going to have to be ready to go. We want to be at our best when it really matters. And weBԪַre going to need to do that.BԪַ

A veteran of 145 NHL playoff games during his time as a player, Tocchet is well aware of what it takes to win in tough situations.

He wants his players to stick together heading into MondayBԪַs game. He wants them to take short shifts and play with desperation.

BԪַThese are big moments and youBԪַre looking for guys to want it, want that big moment. DonBԪַt be scared of it. Go after it. ThatBԪַs my advice to everybody,BԪַ the coach said.

BԪַThereBԪַs a lot of players and teams that are going to be watching that game. I think we play the game as players to be on that stage. Play like you want to be a hero on Monday. ThatBԪַs what I think.BԪַ

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press

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