The Edmonton Oilers 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks Thursday evening at Rogers Place was overshadowed by a scary second late within the third interval.
Zack Kassian’s naked head hit the ice on the finish of a combat with Vancouver’s Zack MacEwen with 3:56 left within the third interval. Kassian’s helmet had popped off in the course of the bout. The pair tumbled to the ice with MacEwen touchdown on prime of Kassian. MacEwen instantly signaled to the Oilers bench that Kassian wanted assist. After being on the ice for a few minutes, Kassian received to his toes and was helped to the Oilers dressing room.
“He’s received a fairly good bump on his head from hitting the ice, however he was in good spirits,” Oilers head coach Dave Tippett mentioned post-game.
“It’s a type of ones that upsets you. It’s a freak factor. His helmet falls off and he falls the unsuitable approach.”
LISTEN BELOW: Dave Tippett
“To see him like that on the ice, it makes me sick to my abdomen,” Derek Ryan mentioned.
The Oilers energy play boosted them to a 2-0 lead after the primary interval. Leon Draisaitl whapped dwelling a one-timer off a move from Connor McDavid. Later, McDavid blazed in on the precise wing and flipped a brief aspect shot previous Jaroslav Halak.
The Canucks replied with two energy play targets within the first six minutes of the second. Quinn Hughes pounded some extent shot previous Mike Smith, then Nic Petan scored on a tip in entrance. Ryan restored the Oilers lead by deflecting a Duncan Keith shot by means of Halak.
“Clearly getting that objective was enormous for the arrogance however we felt helpful in all conditions,” Ryan mentioned of his line with Warren Foegele and Kassian.
LISTEN BELOW: Derek Ryan
“He’s actually sensible. He simply reads performs,” Tippett mentioned of Ryan.
“Once you’ve received a pair huge guys like (Kassian and Foegele) that you really want forechecking actually onerous, he reads off these guys effectively.”
With Halak on the bench for an additional attacker late within the third, Smith lobbed a shot on the Canucks objective. The puck went about 5 toes broad.
“I wish to play a draw, however I might say that was extra of a straight pull,” Smith joked. “The ‘tee field’ was sort of set as much as the precise just a little bit and made me shoot it down the precise aspect.”
LISTEN BELOW: Mike Smith
Smith made 36 saves, together with 16 within the third interval.
The Oilers shut out the pre-season Saturday evening in Vancouver.
With information from 630 CHED’s Brenden Escott
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