Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard (2) and forward Zach Hyman (18) celebrate Bouchard’s game-winning goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the first overtime in Game 2 of the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports

Oilers work overtime to tie Canucks at 1-1

By Paul Harris | Last updated 5/11/24

Defenseman Evan Bouchard got the overtime winner, but Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were the main reasons why the Edmonton Oilers are tied 1-1 with the Vancouver Canucks in a Western Conference second-round playoff series.

Bouchard's goal —a shot from along the right-wing boards that went in off the stick of Canucks defenseman Ian Cole 5:38 into OT — gave the Oilers a 4-3 victory in Game 2 on Friday night at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.

McDavid and Draisaitl, the latter of which was a game-time decision due to an undisclosed injury, were involved in all four goals with a goal and three assists each. McDavid played 28:12 seconds and Draisaitl logged 27:05.

McDavid leads all players in playoff scoring with 17 points (two goals and 15 assists) while Draisaitl is second with 16 (six goals and 10 assists).

McDavid's breakaway goal tied the game 3-3 5:27 into the third period. He knocked a loose puck past Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers in the neutral zone.

The Oilers outshot the Canucks 15-2 in the third, using that stretch to pull even and set up the OT winner.

Vancouver defenseman Nikita Zadorov gave his team a 3-2 lead with 1:43 left in the second period. He scored on a bad angle from the left corner for his fourth goal of the playoffs.

That came after the teams traded goals 23 seconds apart early in the middle period and scored once each in the first period.

The Canucks' Brock Boeser tipped in a shot 53 seconds into the second period for his fifth goal. But Oilers' defenseman Mattias Ekholm tied the game 2-2 from the high slot at 1:16.

Elias Pettersson's power-play goal gave the Canucks a 1-0 lead 4:14 into the game. It was also the first power-play goal the Oilers have given up in the postseason.

Draisaitl tied it 1-1 with 9:04 left in the first period. He scored on a shot from the inside edge of the right circle after a give-and-go with McDavid.

The series shifts to Edmonton's Rogers Place for Game 3 on Sunday at 9:30 p.m. ET.