The Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers are set to face off in Game 7 of the Western Conference Second Round at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on Monday.
The Oilers forced the series to a deciding game with a 5-1 victory in Game 6 at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Saturday.
“We can’t be satisfied or excited about it. We just bought ourselves another day, and I expect the same urgency and desperation from our group,” said Oilers captain Connor McDavid. “I anticipate Vancouver will play a better game as well, and it should be a highly competitive Game 7.”
The winner will advance to the Western Conference Final to face the Dallas Stars, who won their best-of-7 series against the Colorado Avalanche with a 2-1 double-overtime victory in Game 6 on Friday.
“Obviously, you’re a little disappointed, but we know we’re a resilient team,” Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet said. “We need to move on from this game. Some guys need to step up, and we have 48 hours to recharge. It’s Game 7. This is what you play for, and we need to show we want to be in this position.”
The Stars (52-21-9), the top seed from the Central Division and Western Conference, will have home-ice advantage against either the Canucks (50-23-9), the top seed from the Pacific Division, or the Oilers (49-27-6), the second seed from the Pacific.
Vancouver is 6-6 in Game 7s, including a 4-3 record at home. Their most recent Game 7 at home was a 4-0 loss to the Boston Bruins in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.
Defenseman Ian Cole has played in eight Game 7s (4-4 record). Forward J.T. Miller has played in four (1-3), and defenseman Tyler Myers has played in three (1-2), with two goals and an assist in those games.
Goaltender Arturs Silovs has never played in a Game 7. Thatcher Demko, currently out with an undisclosed injury, lost his only Game 7, a 3-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2020 Stanley Cup Second Round, where he made 33 saves.
Rick Tocchet has never coached a Game 7.
“I guess now we’re playing seven games and anything can happen. It’s tough to play seven perfect games,” Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes said. “If you had told us back in September we’d have this opportunity, we would’ve taken it, and we’d have taken it three or four weeks ago as well. So, we’ll be ready.”
Edmonton is 7-4 in Game 7s, including a 3-3 record on the road. They won their most recent Game 7, a 2-0 victory against the Los Angeles Kings in the first round in 2022, but lost their most recent road Game 7, a 2-1 defeat to the Anaheim Ducks in the second round in 2017.
Forward Corey Perry has played in 10 Game 7s (5-5), with four goals and two assists in those games. Forward Zach Hyman has played in four (1-3), and forward Evander Kane has played in three (3-0). Forwards Connor McDavid (one goal, one assist) and Leon Draisaitl (one assist) have each played in two Game 7s (1-1).
Oilers goaltenders Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard have never played in a Game 7, and Kris Knoblauch has never coached one.