The Vancouver Canucks will be without their leading playoff goalscorer, Brock Boeser, for the decisive Game 7 against the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night.
The 26-year-old winger is dealing with a non-life-threatening blood clotting issue, as reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
Boeser has played a vital role for the Canucks this postseason, tallying seven goals and 12 points in 12 games. His absence will undoubtedly be felt as the team fights to keep their Stanley Cup dreams alive in front of their home crowd.
What happened to Brock Boeser?
The details surrounding his condition remain unclear, but it appears the blood clot was discovered recently, forcing him out of action at the most critical juncture of the season. While the timeline for Boeser’s return is unknown, Friedman’s sources emphasize that this is not a life-threatening situation.
Blood clots are a serious medical condition that occur when blood thickens and clumps together, potentially blocking blood flow in veins or arteries. Athletes are particularly susceptible to blood clots due to factors such as frequent travel, dehydration, and injuries that can cause immobility.
Impact of Boeser’s Absence
Losing Boeser really hurts the Canucks’ offense in a big way. The guy was a key part of their scoring punch. He had been thriving against the Oilers, registering three goals and three assists in the first six games of the series. His two-goal, one-assist performance in Game 3 was instrumental in Vancouver’s 3-2 victory.
Head coach Rick Tocchet will need to get creative with his line combinations to fill the void left by Boeser. Expect to see players like Conor Garland, Nils Höglander, and Elias Pettersson step up and take on more responsibility in the top six.
This setback is the latest in a string of challenges the Canucks have faced this postseason. They lost starting goaltender Thatcher Demko in the first round against the Nashville Predators, forcing AHL call-up Arturs Silovs into action. Despite the adversity, the team has shown resilience, staging multiple-goal comebacks in the third period of both series.
Game 7 Without Boeser
As the Canucks prepare for the winner-take-all showdown against the heavily favored Oilers, they will need to dig deep and rely on their depth and home-ice advantage to overcome Boeser’s absence.
A victory would propel them into the Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars, where they would hope to have Boeser and Demko back in the lineup.
SUMMITED THE MOUNTAIN! 🏔️
WE'RE HEADING BACK TO THE WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL! 🌟#TexasHockey pic.twitter.com/kIkFGmYYos
— z – Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) May 18, 2024
The hockey world will be watching closely as the Canucks and Oilers battle it out in Game 7, with a trip to the conference finals hanging in the balance.
Can Vancouver rally around their fallen teammate and pull off the upset, or will Edmonton’s star power prove too much to overcome? Tune in on Monday night at 6 p.m. PST to find out.