Canucks 3, Oilers 2: J.T. Miller's late-game heroics regain playoff ...

The margin for error is minimal in the frenetic NHL post-season.

Time and space are at a premium. Testosterone runs high, tempers flare, and players make mistakes in the heat of battle. And so do officials.

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On a night where the Vancouver Canucks had to stay out of the penalty box — regardless of some very odd calls — they held the Edmonton Oilers’ top-rated playoff power play to just three shots on five unsuccessful man advantages Thursday at Rogers Arena.

After all, that vaunted power play was humming along at a 14-for-30 clip (46.7 per cent).

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The resiliency ensured the Canucks could stay in striking range to regain a second-round series advantage by winning Game 5. And when Nils Hoglander stared at nothing but net in the third period, only to have his shot ring off the post, it was left to J.T. Miller.

He settled the issue with 32.6 seconds remaining as he pounced on an Elias Lindholm rebound off the post for a stunning and satisfying 3-2 triumph. The crowed went crazy They chanted his name. The Oilers are on the brink of elimination. And Miller was relieved the Lindholm showed some patience on his release.

“I’m glad that he didn’t force it there because (Connor) McDavid was ready to go the other way and it was one of those where we got a nice bounce,” said Miller. “Petey went to the net and it (shot) hit him in the foot and the post and I got a little lucky.

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“The puck was all over the place and just nice to get rewarded.”

“I saw it it in the air and I just tried to knock it down or whatever and I tried to kick out and it worked out nicely,” explained Pettersson.”

If was also fitting.

Miller called himself out for being the culprit on the late winning goal in Game 4 at Edmonton on Tuesday. He texted Rick Tocchet the next morning to apologize and then responded in Game 5. It was the cherry on top on a night where the Canucks brought their total team ‘A’ game.

They recovered from a slow start, broke out pucks better, forechecked with a purpose and are one win away from going where nobody could have imagined in October. Except the Canucks, especially with Miller leading the charge.

“I have faith in myself,” said Miller, who had four shots, seven attempts and three hits Thursday and was a monster in the face-off circle by winning 14 of 21 draws for a 67 per cent efficiency. “I speak honestly with you (media) guys, whether it’s good or bad and I just didn’t like my game the other night.

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MAY 16: J.T. Miller #9 of the Vancouver Canucks celebrates the game-winning goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period in Game Five of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Arena on May 16, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Photo by Derek Cain /Getty Images

“We played a solid game tonight. Without being disrespectful, the last two games we’ve been giving Connor a little too much respect and trying not to get scored on, and when you do that, he just has more time. We were more aggressive and extended O-zone time.”

The Canucks have not lost two-straight games since March 23 and 25 and they outshot the Oilers 35-23.

Here’s what else we learned as the series return to Edmonton on Saturday for Game 6:

How can that be charging call?

Pettersson also made an odd impact Thursday.

A second-period hit he absorbed from behind that resulted in an odd charging call in a 2-2 deadlock could have been a pivotal and preposterous part of a tense struggle. It also brought some suspect series officiating back into focus.

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Nikita Zadorov #91 of the Vancouver Canucks and Evander Kane #91 of the Edmonton Oilers are separated by officials in Game Five of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Arena on May 16, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Photo by Derek Cain /Getty Images

On the play, Pettersson was controlling the puck at the Oilers blue-line as Warren Foegele charged at him from behind. Pettersson put his arms and elbows up in defence to absorb the contact and was called for charging. That’s right, charging.

Pettersson did jump, so maybe that’s the rationale, but it was an odd call.

Arturs Silovs #31 of the Vancouver Canucks clears the puck under pressure from Warren Foegele #37 of the Edmonton Oilers during the second period in Game Five of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Arena on May 16, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Photo by Derek Cain /Getty ImagesNew dad, new DiGiuseppe joy

Phil DiGiuseppe had left the club for “personal reasons” and returned Wednesday.

On Thursday, he was overjoyed that he and his wife welcomed a baby boy Sunday. He celebrated in fine fashion with a second period to remember.

The grinding veteran fourth-line winger and Nis Aman went to work on the forecheck. Aman hounded Evan Bouchard from behind the net and Di Giuseppe was in position to pounce on a loose puck for his first NHL playoff goal in his 12th career game.

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DiGiuseppe followed that up with a strong forecheck that resulted in a turnover and a 2-on-1 feed for a chance to play hero and snap a 2-2 draw. He made a great backhand-to-forehand move in the third period and had an earlier short-handed chance.

Vancouver Canucks’ Carson Soucy (7), Phillip Di Giuseppe (34), Teddy Blueger (53) and Vasily Podkolzin, back left, celebrate Soucy’s goal as Edmonton Oilers’ Darnell Nurse, front right, skates to the bench during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, in Vancouver, on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Photo by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESSBe much harder on Pickard

The book on the Oilers’ backup Calvin Pickard is like a lot of books.

Make it hard on him. Take away his eyes. Get traffic to the crease.

However, Pickard’s glove hand was thought to not be his strongest asset. And it played out late in the first period when Carson Soucy pounced on a loose puck in the high slot.

He sent a wrist shot that easily beat Pickard to the glove side. He was prone on his knees and reached up in vain.

Edmonton Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard watches as Vincent Desharnais prevents the puck from crossing the goal line behind him during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Vancouver Canucks, in Vancouver, on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Photo by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESSPettersson can really wing it

The logic proved prophetic.

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Move Pettersson to the wing. Take some heat off the struggling Swede. Free him up to play the wall and not have the extra burden of two-way responsibility that comes with playing centre.

After all, he had but four points (1-3) through his first 10 games, just 15 shots and an abysmal 6.7 per cent shooting percentage. His tone and body language screamed frustration.

It didn’t take long for Pettersson to respond on an alignment with Elias Lindholm and Hoglander.

 

On a spirited first-period shift, he made a strong play along the wall. He then worked his around Ryan McLeod and tried a wraparound before pouncing on a loose puck with a spin-a-rama feed to Hoglander.

It brought chants of ‘Let’s Go Petey’ and he kept responding.

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“It was encouraging to have the fans behind me,” said Pettersson. “It just makes me want to work that much harder. Our line worked hard tonight and we had good cycles and could have scored some goals. It was a step in the right direction.”

Pettersson also fed DiGiuseppe for a short-handed chance, snapped a good wrister through traffic that Lindholm nearly deposited on the rebound and then made a cheeky flip pass to Lindholm at speed through the neutral zone.

Edmonton Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard stops Vancouver Canucks’ Elias Pettersson as Oilers’ Brett Kulak defends during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, in Vancouver, on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Photo by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESSWhat was that call on Suter?

The Canucks knew they had to pressure Pickard.

And when J.T. Miller sped away and sent a cross-ice pass to a breaking Pius Suter in the first period, it looked promising, but Suter couldn’t get to the puck as he got near the crease.

He was hit from behind and made contact with Pickard, who was on top edge of the blue paint. He seemed to sell the contact that was incidental.

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Connor McDavid then hit the crossbar on the power play and the Oilers needed 1:40 to get a shot on the man advantage.

And speaking of penalties, Tyler Myers was called for roughing at end of the first period as tempers flared. Mattias Janmark got an embellishment call. Canucks bench boss Rick Tocchet had to like that.

Water drips from the mask of Vancouver Canucks goalie Arturs Silovs as he waits during a stoppage in play during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers, in Vancouver, on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Photo by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESS

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NEXT GAMERound 2, Game 6, Stanley Cup PlayoffsWhere/When:

Saturday, Time TBD, Rogers Place

TV:

SN Pacific.

Radio:

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