Oilers' Loss To Canucks Ends With Wild Finish

Sometimes, you need to start the story at the end.

Last night's game between the Oilers and Canucks was exciting from start to finish but hit its peak in the final two seconds. With the Oilers down 3-2 and pushing with the empty net, Vancouver's Conor Garland got tied up with Connor McDavid as the two pinned and grappled each other to the ice. With no penalty call forthcoming, McDavid took out his frustration by cross-checking Garland in the face.

Chaos ensued. After the dust settled, both McDavid and Tyler Myers ended up with match penalties as Myers caught Evan Bouchard up high with a cross-check just as nasty as McDavid's. Both players will get automatic hearings with the Department of Player Safety and almost certainly suspensions, overshadowing the Canucks' 3-2 win.

As for the rest of the night, it was one to forget for the Oilers. They came out flat for the second straight game, getting outshot 16-7 in the first period en route to another early 3-0 deficit.

Just like Thursday night in Colorado, the Oilers fought their way back into the game, but unlike Thursday, it wasn't enough. Leon Draisaitl added two more goals to his league lead, notching numbers 32 and 33, but that was all the Oilers could muster as the Canucks held them to just 15 shots, by far their lowest total this season.

While no loss is good, this one can be forgiven to an extent. Last night was the final night of a two-week, eight-game road trip that saw the Oilers go 6-2 while hitting every time zone in the league. You can't win 'em all.

What's more worrisome is the prospect of an impending suspension for Connor McDavid. Based on recent history, like Auston Matthews' cross-check on Rasmus Dahlin at the 2022 Heritage Classic and Carson Soucy's on McDavid in last year's playoffs, McDavid is likely to miss two games. That would take him out of Tuesday's matchup with Washington and the rematch against the Canucks next Thursday.

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At any rate, the Oilers will be grateful to be back home, entering a six-game homestand that will take them through to the beginning of February. Even with this loss, the Oilers are in good shape in the standings: they are still tied with the Vegas Golden Knights for first in the Pacific Division.

As mentioned above, the Oilers won't be back in action until Tuesday. In the meantime, we wait and see what the verdict will be for Connor McDavid.

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