Quinn Hughes couldnB次元官网网址檛 quite find the words to describe his emotions Monday night.

The sting of losing Game 7 to the Edmonton Oilers on home ice was still washing over the Vancouver Canucks captain.

B次元官网网址淗ard to reflect,B次元官网网址� he told reporters. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 kind of just trying to take it all in right now.B次元官网网址�

After falling behind 3-0 in the second period, the Canucks clawed out a pair of late goals in the third period, then pushed hard for a last-minute equalizer.

The bid fell short and Vancouver dropped a 3-2 decision to Edmonton in the decisive game of the all-Canadian second-round playoff series.

The Oilers move on to face the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference final, starting Thursday.

The Canucks are done for the season.

B次元官网网址淩ight now it just sucks to be that close,B次元官网网址� said Canucks forward J.T. Miller.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got a lot of balls here, a lot of resiliency and weB次元官网网址檝e come back a lot of times. And for the game to end like that, I think itB次元官网网址檚 a good representation B次元官网网址� even though we didnB次元官网网址檛 win B次元官网网址� but representation of the culture weB次元官网网址檙e trying to build here.B次元官网网址�

Vancouver got its chances Monday, including a four-minute power play in the first period when Ryan McLeod smacked centre Elias Pettersson in the face with his stick, drawing blood.

The Canucks failed to register a single shot on net with the man advantage

B次元官网网址淚 thought we lost some energy there because of it,B次元官网网址� said head coach Rick Tocchet. B次元官网网址淭hat was a little bit of a zapper. But, for me, itB次元官网网址檚 all positive. I think the guys responded after the second half. They didnB次元官网网址檛 quit.B次元官网网址�

Edmonton smothered VancouverB次元官网网址檚 power play over the final four games of the series, killing off 13 straight penalties across the stretch.

Getting shots on net was a struggle for the Canucks through much of the series, including Monday where the home team was outshot 29-17.

Conor Garland got Vancouver on the board 11:27 into the third and Filip Hronek followed with his first-ever playoff goal less than four minutes later.

B次元官网网址淲e just needed to get some momentum,B次元官网网址� said Pettersson. B次元官网网址淥nce we got the goal, we got some juice. We got a second goal. ThatB次元官网网址檚 how it goes.

B次元官网网址淲e were close. One win away from conference finals. I truly believe weB次元官网网址檒l be back here.B次元官网网址�

The Canucks were playing without star right-winger Brock Boeser, who is reportedly dealing with a blood clotting issue.

Boeser led Vancouver in goals through both the regular season (40) and the playoffs (seven).

While his absence was noticed in Game 7, it was harder for Boeser than the team, Miller said.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 feel sorry for us. I feel sorry for him,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 worked his ass off all year long and had a career year and how far heB次元官网网址檚 come as a player since IB次元官网网址檝e got here, being out there blocking shots with the goalie pulled. HeB次元官网网址檚 that type of player now and for him not to be out there today must suck for him and I feel for him.B次元官网网址�

The Canucks hovered around the top of the league standings all season, but heading into the season few expected the team to make the playoffs.

MondayB次元官网网址檚 loss isnB次元官网网址檛 easy to take, Tocchet acknowledged, but the players have come a long way.

B次元官网网址淭his team brought respect back to this city and this journey,B次元官网网址� the coach said. B次元官网网址淟etB次元官网网址檚 face it B次元官网网址� a year-and-a-half ago or so itB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址楾his guy canB次元官网网址檛 play. This guyB次元官网网址檚 that.B次元官网网址� And I told them before the game that they put respect back in that jersey. Fans got something to be proud about. So thatB次元官网网址檚 all because of the players.B次元官网网址�

Being eliminated from the second round of the playoffs will fuel the group moving forward, he added.

B次元官网网址淟osing always sucks,B次元官网网址� Tocchet said. B次元官网网址淚t stings but it makes you even hungrier.B次元官网网址�

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 20, 2024.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press