Canucks hold off Oilers in Game 3 to retake playoff series lead

Brock Boeser had two goals and an assist, and the Vancouver Canucks hung on for a 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of their second-round Stanley Cup playoff series.

The Canucks now lead the best-of-seven matchup 2-1, with Game 4 set for Tuesday in Edmonton.

Elias Lindholm also scored twice for Vancouver, while Quinn Hughes and J.T. Miller each contributed a pair of assists.

The Oilers used their league-leading power play to secure goals from Mattias Ekholm and Leon Draisaitl, and a late tally from Evan Bouchard.

Stuart Skinner stopped 11 of 15 shots before he was replaced by Calvin Pickard to start the third period. Pickard had three saves in his NHL playoff debut.

Canucks rookie goalie Arturs Silovs stopped 42 of 45 shots and improved to 4-2 in post-season play.

Edmonton's potent power play got to work early in the first period after Boeser was sent to the box for slashing.

An Evander Kane shot was blocked in front of the Vancouver net and the puck bounced out to Ekholm, who fired it past Silovs to put Edmonton up 5:37 into the game.

The veteran defenceman now has goals in three straight playoff games — and is the first Oilers blue liner to achieve the feat since Paul Coffey in 1985.

The Canucks replied with a power-play tally of their own 8:45 into the first.

Stationed at the goal line, Hughes sliced a past to Boeser, who sent a long shot sailing through traffic. Lindholm tipped it in and levelled the score at 1-1 with his fourth goal of the post-season.

Vancouver took the lead midway through the opening frame after the Oilers left Boeser wide open in the faceoff circle. Miller sent the sniper a pass and Boeser ripped a shot past Skinner at the 13:18 mark.

Boeser boosted the Canucks' lead to 3-1 just over