Oilers’ romp of Canucks sets up Round 1 matchup with Ducks: ‘We’re excited’

EDMONTON — Fans will celebrate No Kings Day in Edmonton on Friday, and instead, the Oilers will draw their 2017 selves in a Round 1 series against the Anaheim Ducks.

It took four years and 82 games, but an Anaheim win in Nashville, and an Oilers romp over a tragic version of the Vancouver Canucks helped to avoid a fifth straight Round 1 series against the Los Angeles Kings.

Also Read

Deadspin | FBS committee proposal: Move up start of season, lose ‘Week 0’

Ludvig Aberg cleans up game, leads in RBC Heritage with a 63

Bernardo Silva to leave Manchester City after nine Years | SportsRation

Plugin developed by ProSEOBlogger. Get free gpl themes.

“I like winning,” said defenceman Mattias Ekholm, when asked about the Kings. “But a change of scenery will be nice.”

Playing their best hockey of the season at the most important time, Edmonton flexed with a dominant 6-1 win, outshooting the Canucks 35-12. The Oilers scored just 1:58 in, and led by Connor McDavid’s four assists, they never allowed the Canucks even the slightest kernel of belief that they may have a chance to win.

“They came out ready to play and secured their spot in the playoffs on home ice,” said Vancouver defenceman Filip Hronek. “We were not ready for it.”

If there was ever any doubt about the Oilers’ ability to deliver a decisive victory on cue, they dispelled that notion with a 60-minute, wire-to-wire boot stomp of a Canucks team that did

“It was 60 minutes of a good hockey game,” said Darnell Nurse. “We checked well — we’ve been checking well for a little bit now — and were able to produce the offence. I think for our group it was good overall.”

Edmonton has allowed one regulation goal against in each of its past three games. In six of their past eight, they’ve allowed two or less.

They’re dialled in and gave the Canucks absolutely nothing, other than a miscue with the score 2-0. Edmonton native and former Sherwood Park Crusader Ty Mueller scored his first NHL goal on a breakaway in front of family and friends. It was the only time of the evening when Vancouver appeared competitive.

“We came out and looked like we were assertive in every way possible, and weren’t going to let this one slip,” Ekholm said. “Kudos to us for having a professional performance against a team that looked like they kind of wanted to go on their break.”

McDavid, as expected, came out right from puck drop with a demeanour that said, “We’re winning tonight, and there is no other option.” He assisted on four of the Oilers’ six goals.

After Josh Samanski banked a pass in off a skate at the 1:58 mark, one of two goals for the fourth line, McDavid went to work, assisting on all three goals of a Matt Savoie hat trick in Period 1. Savoie closes out his rookie season with 18 goals and 37 points, most of the damage done since Jan. 1.

He’s found a spot on the left wing with McDavid and Zach Hyman that’s beginning to look permanent. Savoie is fast, young and has great hands — a nice set of tools on a team that is getting long in the tooth.

“I’m tenacious and I think I’m getting better working to areas to be able to finish,” he said. “I think the looks have been there especially over the last seven, eight games. I’m starting to finish more and looking to continue with the confidence.”

With the regular season complete, McDavid wins his sixth Art Ross Trophy with 138 points (48 goals). He will have an excellent shot at collecting his fourth Hart Trophy after a late-season run that produced 27 points in the final 15 games of the season.

With a four-point night Thursday, the Oilers captain moved past the great Montreal Canadien Jean Beliveau in all-time scoring with 1,220 points. By the end of next season, he will likely reel in the likes of Norm Ullman, Peter Stastny, Jarome Iginla and Gilbert Perreault on the NHL’s all-time scoring list.

Crazy how time flies, isn’t it?

Now, Edmonton will play a Ducks team making its first post-season appearance in eight seasons. Much like in 2017, when McDavid made his first NHL playoff journey — one that was ended by a veteran-laden Ducks team in seven games.

“They’re a young team,” he said of Anaheim. “It’s their first time in the playoffs and they’ll be excited as they should be. They’ve earned their spot and they’ll be excited. But we’re excited too.”

OIL SPILLS — Colton Dach notched his first Gordie Howe hat trick Saturday, and a viable fourth line has emerged just in time for playoffs, when depth is so important … With three assists, Evan Bouchard closes his season with 95 points — just the 10th defenceman ever to hit that mark.