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

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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.

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?

Elias Pettersson made an impact Thursday.

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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.

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.

New 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.

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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.

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.

Be 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.

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

Pettersson can really wing it

The logic proved prophetic.

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.

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

Pettersson then 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.

What 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.

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

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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.

bkuzma@postmedia.com

NEXT GAME

Round 2, Game 6, Stanley Cup Playoffs

Where/When:

Saturday, Time TBD, Rogers Place

TV:

SN Pacific.

Radio:

Sportsnet 650

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