Vancouver Canucks Round 2, Game 5 Preview: A Bounce Back Needed As The Series Returns To Rogers Arena

Adam Kierszenblat

May 16, 2024, 07:01

Adam Kierszenblat

May 16, 2024, 07:01

The Vancouver Canucks will need to bounce back from a challenging Game 4 if they want to leave Rogers Arena with a 3-2 series lead.

With the series tied 2-2, the Vancouver Canucks return home for a pivotal Game 5 against the Edmonton Oilers. According to Hockey Reference, teams that have gone up 3-2 in a series win 79.1% of the time, showing just how crucial this game is for both organizations. Ultimately, if Vancouver can come out of the gate strong and stay out of the box, they have a good chance of taking Game 5 in front of their home fans.

One area where the Canucks have dominated this series is in physicality. Vancouver holds a 172-123 hits advantage through four games, which included 45 in Game 4. If the Canucks can keep up the physicality and ensure they lay clean hits on the Oilers' top players, it may start to have an impact as the series enters its fifth game.

Vancouver also needs their power play to get going. Yes, they scored twice in Game 3 but went 0-3 in Game 4 and struggled to generate chances. With power plays at a premium in this series, the Canucks need to capitalize as an inability to score on the man advantage is once again costing them games.

Players to Watch

Elias Pettersson

At this stage of the series, Elias Pettersson needs to find a way to get going. He only has one point through four games and has struggled at both ends of the ice. Whether it is on the power play or at even strength, Pettersson needs to have a Game 5 to remember if Vancouver wants to head back to Edmonton with the series lead.

Mattias Ekholm

It is hard to believe that Mattias Ekholm is playing injured. Ekholm played over 24 minutes in Game 4 and has at least a point in each game of the series. A leader on Edmonton's blue line, the Canucks need to ensure they forecheck hard and not allow Ekholm to make plays in the neutral zone.

Canucks Projected Lineup

Suter- Miller- Boeser

Höglander- Lindholm- Pettersson

Joshua-Blueger-Garland

Di Giuseppe- Åman-Podkolzin

Hughes- Hronek

Soucy- Myers

Zadorov- Cole

Šilovs

DeSmith

Oilers Projected Lineup

Nugent-Hopkins- McDavid- Hyman